Contumacious (Adjective)
Meaning
Wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient; "a contumaceous witness is subject to punishment".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The judge found the defendant to be contumacious in his refusal to answer questions, and held him in contempt of court.
- The contumacious attitude of the teenager towards her parents was starting to wear thin, and they were at a loss for how to deal with her.
- The company's contumacious refusal to comply with the regulations led to a hefty fine and a damaged reputation.
- The contumacious witness was warned repeatedly by the judge to answer the questions truthfully, but she continued to stonewall.
- The politician's contumacious stance on the issue was seen as a major obstacle to finding a solution, and his opponents were quick to criticize him.