RECALCITRANCES Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

recalcitrance

noun

ri-ˈkal-sə-trən(t)s

Definition of recalcitrance

as in rebellion

refusal to obey punished her recalcitrance by taking away her driving privileges

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of recalcitrance Holidays are far easier to add than to remove, and the resulting inflexibility, combined with the union’s recalcitrance, has made compliance with state law more difficult. — John Ketcham, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2026 The singer for the latter band, Liam Gallagher, disavowed the Rock Hall when his band was previously twice nominated, but the nominating committee did not hold his recalcitrance against him this year. — Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026 But less than a month after proposing the inquiry, PURA released a decision abruptly canceling it and blaming the cancellation on utility recalcitrance. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Feb. 2026 As Holland recently alluded to in an interview with the Kings’ Zach Dooley and Jared Shafran, that recalcitrance could complicate the Kings’ timeline. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for recalcitrance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recalcitrance

Noun

Amid a rebellion over the SAVE Act, Johnson lost control of the House floor for a second time this week, sending lawmakers home early for the July Fourth recess.

— Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 July 2026
These battles have completely receded from the American imagination, even though, in some ways, the American rebellion was a sideshow to a far greater imperial drama.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026

Definition of rebellion

Noun

Additionally, occasional rule-breaking and defiance are considered a normal part of child and adolescent development.

— Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
The funeral was also used to project defiance, with thousands of mourners filling Tehran and chanting for revenge.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of defiance

Noun

Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.

— Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026

Definition of willfulness

Noun

Marji’s rebelliousness, both admirable and terrifying for those who love her, is her salient characteristic.

— Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of rebelliousness

Noun

No disrespect to Meredith Marks, of course, but this Bravo DJ epidemic has gotten out of control.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026
Managers frequently mistake flexibility for a weak work ethic, mental health discussions for fragility, transparency for disrespect, and feedback requests for neediness.

— Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of disrespect

Noun

Their stories live on in Sardinian lore with an almost mythical quality, the brigands admired for their intractability.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
But Bass and every council member and all their successors need to be reminded that a civic sense of intractability is a dangerous thing.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026

Definition of intractability

Noun

But many Catholics, including conservative and traditional ones, are opposed to the consecrations, viewing them as an act of severe disobedience to the pope that hurts the church.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
But many Catholics not in Econe, including conservative and traditional ones, opposed the consecrations as an act of severe disobedience that hurts the church.

— Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of disobedience

Browse Nearby Words

rebuys

recalcitrance

recalcitrancy

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“Recalcitrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recalcitrance. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of recalcitrance

noun

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