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Contumacious: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Contumacious adjective. Stubbornly disobedient to authority, especially to a court.
How to say it
kon-tyoo-MAY-shus/ˌkɒntjʊˈmeɪʃəs/
4 syllables, stressed on the third (MAY). Forms: contumacy.
Contumacious in a sentence
The contumacious witness refused to answer and was jailed for contempt.
A contumacious teenager, she treated every school rule as a dare.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- insubordinate
- defiant
- rebellious
- obstinate
Opposite:
- obedient
- compliant
Where contumacious comes from
From Latin contumax, stubborn or insolent.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
A _____ teenager, she treated every school rule as a dare.
- insolvent
- moot
- contumacious
Show the answer
contumacious: A contumacious teenager, she treated every school rule as a dare.