refractory
1 of 2adjective
refractory
2 of 2noun
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Refractory is from the Latin word refractarius. During the 17th century, it was sometimes spelled as refractary, but that spelling, though more in keeping with its Latin parent, had fallen out of use by the century's end. Refractarius, like refractory, is the result of a slight variation in spelling. It stems from the Latin verb refragari, meaning "to oppose."
Synonyms
Adjective
- balky
- contrary
- contumacious
- defiant
- disobedient
- froward
- incompliant
- insubordinate
- intractable
- obstreperous
- rebel
- rebellious
- recalcitrant
- recusant
- restive
- ungovernable
- unruly
- untoward
- wayward
- willful
- wilful
Example Sentences
Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 6 July 2022 However, there is some concern regarding the safety of PPI treatment, as well as the fact that a subset of patients are refractory. Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 1 June 2022 At an outpatient clinic, Tawfik treats rare and refractory types of pain usually associated with surgery or injury, such as chronic neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome. Troy Farah, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2021 There have been some positive developments for Bristol Myers Squibb as well, including the EU approval for Abecma - the First Anti-BCMA CAR T Cell Therapy - for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Trefis Team, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2021 Many less attractive traits are also recorded: Charles could be uncommunicative and dilatory, evasive and mendacious, refractory, vindictive, obstinate, even outright wicked, though self-delusive about the motives of others. R.j.w. Evans, The New York Review of Books, 11 June 2020 Cinematographer Yves Bélanger was having a fair amount of fun with fish-eye lenses, refractory visual effects, and askew angles. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2021 Many less attractive traits are also recorded: Charles could be uncommunicative and dilatory, evasive and mendacious, refractory, vindictive, obstinate, even outright wicked, though self-delusive about the motives of others. R.j.w. Evans, The New York Review of Books, 11 June 2020 The 9% rise can primarily be attributed to the announcement of positive interim data from a phase one study for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma. Trefis Team, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2021 K.n.c., The Economist, 27 Nov. 2019 Almost a third endure refractory epilepsy, meaning typical pharmaceutical drugs have little effect in reducing the instances or frequency of seizures. Robert Iddiols, CNN, 28 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
Adjective
alteration of refractary, from Latin refractarius, irregular from refragari to oppose, from re- + -fragari (as in suffragari to support with one's vote)
Adjective
1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1627, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing refractory
Kids Definition
refractory
adjective
Medical Definition
refractory
adjective
Michelle L. Bennett et al.refractory
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- rebel
- rebellious
- defiant
- recalcitrant
- stubborn
- intractable
- insubordinate
- disobedient
- rigid
- willful
- contumacious
- obstreperous
- resistant
- contrary
- dogged
- restive
- unruly
- balky
- insurgent
- wayward
- naughty
- adamant
- ungovernable
- dissident
- incompliant
- mischievous
- recusant
- wilful
- uncontrollable
- untoward
- obstinate
- froward
- obdurate
- uncooperative
- rude
- mutinous
- wild
- monkeying
- peevish
- pertinacious
- bad
- unbending
- pigheaded
- immovable
- unrelenting
- inflexible
- mulish
- unmanageable
- unyielding
- negativistic
- implacable
- noncooperative
- fractious
- adamantine
- uncompromising
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- opinionated
- insolent
- disorderly
- misbehaving
- errant
- impudent
- self-willed
- disrespectful
- discourteous
- perverse
- wrongheaded
- undisciplined
- nonconformist
- ornery
- impertinent
- uncouth
- uncivil
- inconsiderate
- impolite
- unmannerly
- monkeyish
- ungracious
- ill-bred
- ill-mannered
- ill-natured
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obedient
- compliant
- conformable
- tractable
- amenable
- acquiescent
- submissive
- docile
- cooperative
- deferential
- amiable
- yielding
- biddable
- agreeable
- obliging
- behaved
- polite
- disciplined
- courteous
- subservient
- servile
- respectful
- slavish
- proper
- controllable
- obsequious
- decorous
- ruly
- well-bred
- governable
- orderly
- trainable
- mannerly
- manageable
- kowtowing
Synonyms & Similar Words
- recalcitrant
- stubborn
- intractable
- uncontrollable
- unmanageable
- rebellious
- unruly
- wayward
- willful
- headstrong
- difficult
- ungovernable
- incontrollable
- obstinate
- naughty
- obdurate
- wilful
- stiff
- untoward
- intransigent
- froward
- out of hand
- incorrigible
- bullheaded
- pigheaded
- mulish
- uncontrolled
- insubordinate
- disobedient
- hardheaded
- undisciplined
- wild
- perverse
- rowdy
- opinionated
- boisterous
- self-willed
- contrary
- stiff-necked
- irrepressible
- rambunctious
- unpunished
- misbehaving
- indocile
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- controllable
- tractable
- obedient
- governable
- manageable
- compliant
- docile
- pliable
- yielding
- submissive
- receptive
- responsive
- placable
- well-behaved
- temperate
- accepting
- reasonable
- willing
- persuadable
- trainable
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of refractory are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, ungovernable, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.
The words headstrong and refractory can be used in similar contexts, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.
While in some cases nearly identical to refractory, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.
Although the words recalcitrant and refractory have much in common, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.
The meanings of ungovernable and refractory largely overlap; however, ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.
The synonyms unruly and refractory are sometimes interchangeable, but unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.
The words willful and refractory are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.