recusant
noun
re·cu·sant ˈre-kyə-zənt 
ri-ˈkyü-
1
: an English Roman Catholic of the time from about 1570 to 1791 who refused to attend services of the Church of England and thereby committed a statutory offense
2
: one who refuses to accept or obey established authority
recusant adjective
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The uniform of the conformist — sports shirt, cardigan, tennis shoes — is as easily recognized as that of the recusant — dirty white T, sideburns, two days’ growth of beard. 
Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 15 July 2019
Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 15 July 2019 Word History
Etymology
Latin recusant-, recusans, present participle of recusare to reject, oppose, from re- + causari to give a reason, from causa cause, reason
First Known Use
circa 1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
recusant
adjective
re·cu·sant
ˈre-kyə-zənt, ri-ˈkyü-
: refusing to submit to authority
the recusant witness failed to appear despite a subpoena
recusant 1 of 2
adjective
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control several recusant senators refused to vote as commanded by the party leadership Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rebellious
- rebel
- defiant
- contumacious
- willful
- dissident
- stubborn
- contrary
- wayward
- dogged
- disobedient
- restive
- naughty
- mischievous
- rigid
- obstreperous
- refractory
- recalcitrant
- unruly
- adamant
- froward
- insubordinate
- wilful
- insurgent
- ungovernable
- intractable
- balky
- untoward
- wild
- resistant
- incompliant
- pertinacious
- obstinate
- mutinous
- bad
- rude
- uncontrollable
- obdurate
- nonconformist
- headstrong
- opinionated
- implacable
- uncooperative
- uncompromising
- monkeying
- negativistic
- peevish
- adamantine
- pigheaded
- immovable
- unbending
- noncooperative
- fractious
- unmanageable
- unyielding
- impudent
- mulish
- inflexible
- hardheaded
- errant
- unrelenting
- disorderly
- insolent
- misbehaving
- undisciplined
- ornery
- wrongheaded
- uncouth
- impertinent
- ungracious
- self-willed
- disrespectful
- inconsiderate
- perverse
- unmannerly
- discourteous
- uncivil
- impolite
- ill-bred
- ill-natured
- monkeyish
- ill-mannered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- submissive
- obedient
- amiable
- docile
- conformable
- compliant
- agreeable
- amenable
- obliging
- tractable
- acquiescent
- cooperative
- biddable
- deferential
- ruly
- behaved
- respectful
- yielding
- disciplined
- courteous
- obsequious
- polite
- servile
- decorous
- slavish
- subservient
- well-bred
- proper
- orderly
- mannerly
- controllable
- governable
- manageable
- kowtowing
- trainable
recusant
2 of 2noun
as in mutineer
Synonyms & Similar Words
- mutineer
- resister
- resistant
- oppositionist
- rebel
- insubordinate
- defier
- insurrectionary
- insurgent
- challenger
- anarchist
- revolutionist
- refuser
- radical
- red
- insurrectionist
- extremist
- revolutionary
- anarch
- revolter
- discontent
- malcontent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- patriot
- loyalist
- supporter
- counterrevolutionary
- counterinsurgent
- counterrevolutionist