recalcitrant

Word family

re·cal·ci·trant /rɪˈkælsətrənt/ adjectiveadj formal

DISOBEYrefusing to do what you are told to do, even after you have been punished 不顺从的，桀骜不驯的 SYN unruly

a recalcitrant pupil

一名不服管教的学生

—recalcitrance noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

recalcitrant• It was intended to pressure a recalcitrant attorney general into authorizing the appointment of an independent counsel by a designated court.• He left Malmo in his private jet without his recalcitrant caddie.• They went up the track with Piper dragging his heels like a recalcitrant child.• recalcitrant children• Discovering the way of course takes us back to your recalcitrant dealers.• We giggled as we struggled to fit the final recalcitrant eye into the final unbending hook.• Mayor Willie Brown, rather than accepting the challenge, shifted the onus back on recalcitrant neighbors.• For a fleeting moment Gina almost felt sorry for Hanne's recalcitrant son.• There were hopeful signs from one recalcitrant state.

Origin recalcitrant

(1800-1900) Late Latin present participle of recalcitrare “to refuse to obey”, from Latin calcitrare “to kick”, from calx “heel”

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus

BNC: 14128 COCA: 17985

recalcitrant

Disobedient and uncooperative: disobedient, defiant, lawless...