contumacious
Willfully resisting authority
Contumacious means stubbornly rebellious or willfully disobedient, especially toward authority.
The word appears mainly in legal contexts, describing someone who defies court orders or refuses to comply with legal proceedings: The judge held the contumacious witness in contempt.
Outside law, it's a formal way to describe obstinate resistance to control.
Defying rightful authority
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- recalcitrantStubbornly resistant to control
- rebelliousResisting authority or control
- noncompliantFailing to conform
contemptuous · insolent · impudent · disrespectful · scornful · defiance · audacious · brazen
Firmly refusing to yield
- intractableImpossible to manage
- willfulIntentionally unyielding
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- obdurateStubbornly refusing to change
pertinacious · mulish · bullheaded · pigheaded · dogged · unyielding · unbending · inflexible
Disdainful disregard
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- defaultPreset standard option
- nonappearanceFailure to attend
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
refusal · violation · disregard · flouting · scofflaw · court order · subpoena · summons
insubordinate
Defying rightful authority
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- recalcitrantStubbornly resistant to control
- rebelliousResisting authority or control
noncompliant · contemptuous · insolent · impudent · disrespectful · scornful · defiance · audacious · brazen · provocative
obstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
- intractableImpossible to manage
- willfulIntentionally unyielding
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
obdurate · pertinacious · mulish · bullheaded · pigheaded · dogged · unyielding · unbending · inflexible · adamant
contempt
Disdainful disregard
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- defaultPreset standard option
- nonappearanceFailure to attend
disobedience · refusal · violation · disregard · flouting · scofflaw · court order · subpoena · summons · jurisdiction
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
contumaciousobedient
Following commands willingly
compliant · submissive · docile · tractable · acquiescent