unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions; difficult to control 不守規章的;不服從指揮的;桀骜不馴的;難以控制的 a recalcitrant child 無法管教的孩子 He was like a teacher encouraging a recalcitrant pupil. 他就像一個老師在鼓勵一個倔強的學生。 One option is to threaten recalcitrant ministers with the sack. 一種選擇是用解僱來威脅頑固的部長們。
Word Originmid 19th cent.: from Latin recalcitrant- ‘kicking out with the heels’, from the verb recalcitrare, based on calx, calc- ‘heel’.