balky
Stubbornly resisting movement
Balky describes something that stubbornly refuses to proceed or function properly.
The word comes from horses and mules that balk—stop short and won't move forward: a balky mule.
It extends to machinery or systems that won't cooperate: The balky engine finally turned over on the third try.
A balky person is uncooperative or resistant.
Firmly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- willfulIntentionally unyielding
intractable · recalcitrant · contrary · perverse · dogged · bullheaded · pertinacious · tenacious
Not consistently performing
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
- crankyIll-tempered and peevish
- cantankerousBad-tempered and argumentative
malfunctioning · sticking · jamming · sputtering · misfiring · faulty · glitchy · wonky
Unwilling to assist others
- noncompliantFailing to conform
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- rebelliousResisting authority or control
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
insubordinate · restive · refractory · wayward · froward · unruly · unmanageable · indocile
obstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
willful · intractable · recalcitrant · contrary · perverse · dogged · bullheaded · pertinacious · tenacious · unyielding
unreliable
Not consistently performing
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
- crankyIll-tempered and peevish
cantankerous · malfunctioning · sticking · jamming · sputtering · misfiring · faulty · glitchy · wonky · buggy
uncooperative
Unwilling to assist others
- noncompliantFailing to conform
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- rebelliousResisting authority or control
disobedient · insubordinate · restive · refractory · wayward · froward · unruly · unmanageable · indocile · uncontrollable
hesitant
Slow to act
- reluctantUnwilling to act
- unwillingOpposed to participating
- disinclinedAverse to acting
loath · averse · demurring · resisting · jibbing · stalling · foot-dragging
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
- unwillingreluctant, hesitant, resistant, averse, disinclined