RECALCITRANT

How it’s pronounced

Definition:

Stubbornly resistant to authority or control.

Examples:

• “I told my recalcitrant cat not to knock over my water, and he looked me straight in the eye and did it anyway.”

• The printer remained recalcitrant, despite my swearing and threats to unplug it.

Etymology:

From Latin recalcitrare (“to kick back”), from re- (“back”) + calcitrare (“to kick”).

Entered English in the mid-19th century.

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