Synonyms for contumacious
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Stubborn — contemptuous of authority; willfully disobedient; rebellious
stubborn, rebellious, perverse, obstinate, disobedient, insubordinate, defiant, refractory, intractable, mutinous, bolshie UK, self-willed, unruly, willful US, wilful UK, headstrong, unyielding, recalcitrant, restive, ungovernable, mulish, pertinacious, froward dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
Contemptuous of authority; willfully disobedient; rebellious.
Related words
- Word family
- contumaciously contumacy contumely contumelious
Choose the right word
Contumacious refers to a proud and insolent defiance of authority, as of the summons of a court.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- stubborn I'm not stubborn; i'm just always right, thats it.
- rebellious Among the people, rebellious sentiments are growing.
- perverse Layla was victim to Sami's every perverse whim.
- obstinate I've heard that Tom and Mary are quite obstinate.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| contumacious | falling | |
| stubborn | rising | |
| rebellious | rising | |
| perverse | rising | |
| obstinate | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- unruly3, wilful, mulish
- 7 letters
- defiant3, willful2, restive2, bolshie, froward
- 8 letters
- stubborn2, perverse2, mutinous3
- 9 letters
- obstinate3
- 10 letters
- rebellious3, refractory4, headstrong2, unyielding3
- 11 letters
- intractable4, disobedient5
- 12 letters
- recalcitrant4, ungovernable5, pertinacious
- 13 letters
- insubordinate5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (unruly3 = 3 syllables).