refractory
adjective /rɪˈfræktəri/
/rɪˈfræktəri/
- (formal) (of a person) difficult to control; behaving badly
- (medical) (of a disease or medical condition) difficult to treat or cure
Word Originearly 17th cent.: alteration of obsolete refractary, from Latin refractarius ‘stubborn’ (see also refract).