Words / C2

kont-yoo-MAYSH-uh-s/ˌkɒntjuːˈmeɪʃəs/

Contumacious means stubbornly rebellious and disobedient, especially towards authority (formal / legal): a contumacious refusal, contumacious silence. To disobey (already in the dictionary) is everyday refusal of a rule; recalcitrant (already in the dictionary) is stubbornly uncooperative — the close twin. Insolent (already in the dictionary) is insulting towards authority, of tone more than of a refusal to comply. This batch: contumely is the insulting language. A drill skip is still a named sanction.

Meaning

Stubbornly rebellious and disobedient, especially towards authority (formal / legal).

Examples

• “Contumacious silence in the drill is still a named sanction.”
• “To disobey is to refuse a rule or order (already in B2). Recalcitrant is stubbornly uncooperative (already in C2). Insolent is insultingly rude to authority (already in C2). Contumely is insulting scorn (this batch). A dated sanction can still be calm. Silence that never names the drill is a hole. Write the sanction; leave the shrug.”

Good to know

Stubbornly disobedient (formal). Everyday: disobey (already in this dictionary). Close: recalcitrant (already in C2); insolent (tone — already in C2). This batch: contumely. Silence ≠ cover.

Near in meaning

recalcitrant, defiant, insubordinate, obstinate

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