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recalcitrant

/ɹɪ.ˈkæl.sɪ.tɹənt/
Meanings
  • adjective

    Refusing to obey or comply, especially when under pressure or instruction.

    - "The recalcitrant employee refused to follow the company's new policy."
    - "The recalcitrant mule would not be easily led."
Pronunciation
  1. /ɹɪ.ˈkæl.sɪ.tɹənt/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75857718"
Antonyms

amenable , cooperative , eager , orthodox , compliant , obedient
Synonyms

adversarial , intransigent , obstreperous , stubborn , unruly , argumentative , disobedient
Rhymes
Words rhyming with recalcitrant
obdurate , resistant , obstinate , defiant
Variants
List of all variants of recalcitrant that leads to same result
recalcitrant , recalcitrants
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Latin recalcitrare, to kick back, resist.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'recalcitrant' was first used in English in the 16th century.

  2. In chemistry, a recalcitrant substance is one that is difficult to process or dissolve.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. obdurate: Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

  2. obstinate: Refusing to comply or give in, especially when faced with opposition or requests.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. For anyone who has ever struggled to extract a "recalcitrant" cork from a bottle … the value of a good corkscrew is a given.

    - Ettagale Blauer,{it}Wine Spectator{/it},31 Oct. 1996

  2. But Smith managed to rally and to learn, through trial and error, how to milk what he needed out of an often "recalcitrant" medical system.

    - Gina Kolata,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},7 Sept. 1997

  3. George and I were down in a trench hacking at one particularly "recalcitrant" oak carcass when a local farmer pulled up in his truck.

    - P. J. O'Rourke,{it}Republican Party Reptile{/it},1987

  4. In November 1891, James Naismith, a 32-year-old Canadian-born instructor at the International Y.M.C.A. Training School in Springfield, was asked to invent an indoor game to help tame the members of a "recalcitrant" gym class.

    - Scott Ellsworth,{it}New York Times{/it},29 May 1994

  5. You are not the kind of person who beats on "recalcitrant" vending machines.

    - Jay McInerney,{it}Bright Lights, Big City{/it},1984
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'recalcitrant' is often used to describe characters who resist authority or change. In music, there is a band named Recalcitrant Dog that uses the term as part of their name.

How to Memorize "recalcitrant"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize a person or animal that is being difficult or refusing to comply with instructions.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word with the idea of resistance or refusal to comply.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic using the first letter of each definition: R - Refusing, C - Complying, L - under pressure, I - Instruction, T - resistant, A - adjective, N - noun, T - term.

🧠 Bonus Tips

To help you remember the word 'recalcitrant', follow these practical tricks with steps:

1. Rhyming Trick: Associate the word 'recalcitrant' with the word 'defiant'. They have similar meanings and rhyme with each other. So, every time you think of the word 'defiant', the word 'recalcitrant' will also come to your mind.

2. Visual Trick: Imagine a 'recalcitrant' character, such as a mule, that refuses to move. The word 'recalcitrant' means stubborn or resistant to authority or guidance, so this visualization can help you remember the meaning and spelling of the word.

3. Breaking Down the Word: Break down the word 'recalcitrant' into smaller parts. 'Recal' means to recall or call back, and 'citrant' is similar to 'citrus', which makes you think of something sour or bitter. Together, they form the word 'recalcitrant', which means stubborn or resistant, often with a negative connotation.

4. Mnemonic Device: Create a mnemonic device to help you remember the word 'recalcitrant'. For example, you can use the sentence 'Raccoons can be recalcitrant animals because they are stubborn and hard to handle.' The first letter of each word in the sentence corresponds to the letters in 'recalcitrant', making it easier to remember the spelling and meaning.

5. Repetition and Practice: Finally, practice using the word 'recalcitrant' in sentences and conversations. The more you use it, the easier it will be to remember.

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