recalcitrant

UK: /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ US: /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ ,(ri kal′si trənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•cal•ci•trant /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/   adj. 

1. resisting or fighting against authority or control;
   not obedient or cooperative:
   The recalcitrant prisoner had to be dragged back to his cell.
2. hard to deal with, manage, or operate:
   a recalcitrant machine.

re•cal•ci•trance, n. [uncountable]  

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•cal•ci•trant  (ri kal′si trənt), adj. 

1. resisting authority or control;
   not obedient or compliant;
   refractory.
2. hard to deal with, manage, or operate.

n. 

3. a recalcitrant person.

• Latin recalcitrant- (stem of recalcitrāns, present participle of recalcitrāre to kick back), equivalent. to re- re- + calcitr(āre) to strike with the heels, kick (derivative of calx heel) + -ant- -ant
• 1835–45

re•cal′ci•trance, re•cal′ci•tran•cy, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. resistant, rebellious, opposed. See unruly. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

recalcitrant / rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ adjective

1. not susceptible to control or authority; refractory

noun

1. a recalcitrant person

Etymology: 19th Century: via French from Latin recalcitrāre, from re- + calcitrāre to kick, from calx heel

reˈcalcitrance noun