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Contrary vs Recalcitrant - What's the difference?

contrary | recalcitrant | Synonyms |

Contrary is a synonym of recalcitrant.


As adjectives the difference between contrary and recalcitrant

is that contrary is opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse while recalcitrant is recalcitrant, rebellious.

As an adverb contrary

is contrarily.

As a noun contrary

is the opposite.

As a verb contrary

is (obsolete) to oppose; to frustrate.

contrary

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
    • contrary winds
  • * Bible, Leviticus xxvi. 21
    • And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me
  • * Shakespeare
    • We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way.
  • Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.
  • * Whewell
    • The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred Scripture.
  • Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.
    • a contrary''' disposition; a '''contrary child

    Derived terms

    * contrarian * contrarily * contrariwise * contrary to

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Contrarily

    • Noun

    (contraries)
  • The opposite.
  • * Shakespeare
    • No contraries hold more antipathy / Than I and such a knave.
  • One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true.
  • * I. Watts
    • If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries ; as, every vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true together; but they may be both false.

    Synonyms

    * witherward

    Derived terms

    * on the contrary * to the contrary

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (obsolete) To oppose; to frustrate.
  • *Bishop Latimer
  • *:I was advised not to contrary the king.
  • *, I.47:
  • *:The Athenians having left the enemie in their owne land, for to pass into Sicilie , had very ill successe, and were much contraried by fortune.
  • (obsolete) To impugn.
  • (obsolete) To contradict (someone or something).
  • *:
  • *:thus wilfully sir Palomydes dyd bataille with yow / & as for hym sir I was not gretely aferd but I dred fore la?celot that knew yow not / Madame said Palomydes ye maye saye what so ye wyll / I maye not contrary yow but by my knyghthode I knewe not sir Tristram
  • *, II.12:
  • *:I finde them everie one in his turne to have reason, although they contrary one another.
  • (obsolete) To do the opposite of (someone'' or ''something ).
  • (obsolete) To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to .
  • (obsolete) To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.
  • (obsolete) To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

    • Related terms

    * contra * counter

    References

    * * * *

    recalcitrant

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey authority.
  • * 1908 , , "In Trust" in The Hermit and the Wild Woman and Other Stories :
    • His nimble fancy was recalcitrant to mental discipline.
  • * 1914 , , "Death at the Excelsior":
    • There was something in her manner so reminiscent of the school teacher reprimanding a recalcitrant pupil that Mr. Snyder's sense of humor came to his rescue.
  • * 1959 June 8, " Kenya: The Hola Scandal," Time :
    • Kenya's official "Cowan Plan," named after a colonial prison administrator, decreed that recalcitrant prisoners "be manhandled to the site and forced to carry out the task."
  • Unwilling to cooperate socially.
  • Difficult to deal with or to operate.
  • * 2003 , Robert G. Wetzel, Solar radiation as an ecosystem modulator'', in E. Walter Helbling, Horacio Zagarese (editors), ''UV Effects in Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems , page 13:
    • The more labile organic constituents of complex dissolved and particulate organic matter are commonly hydrolyzed and metabolized more rapidly than more recalcitrant organic compounds that are less accessible enzymatically.
  • * 2004 , Derek W. Urwin, Germany: From Geographical Expression to Regional Accommodation'', in (editor), ''Regions and Regionalism in Europe , page 47:
    • The Hansa had no legal status, independent finances or a common institutional framework, while the major weapon against recalcitrant members (or opponents) was the threat of embargo.
  • * 2006 , Janet Pierrehumbert, Syllable structure and word structure: a study of triconsonantal clusters in English'', in Patricia A. Keating (editor), ''Phonological Structure and Phonetic Form , page 179:
    • Particularly recalcitrant examples which made it impossible to remove actual words while maintaining the balance of the set were resolved by altering a consonant in the base word to create a new base form.
  • * 2010 , Brian J. Hall, John C. Hall, Sauer's Manual of Skin Diseases , page 251:
    • However, when a clinician is faced with a more recalcitrant case, it is important to remember to ask the patient whether psychological, social, or occupational stress might be contributing to the activity of the skin disorder.
  • * '>citation
  • Not viable for an extended period; damaged by drying or freezing.

    • Synonyms

    * (stubbornly unwilling to obey authority) argumentative, disobedient * (difficult to operate or deal with) stubborn, unruly

    Antonyms

    * (stubbornly unwilling to obey authority) compliant, obedient * (difficult to operate or deal with) amenable, cooperative, eager * (not viable for long period) orthodox

    Derived terms

    * recalcitrance * recalcitrancy

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who is recalcitrant.
    • ----