contumacious

IPA/ˌkɒntjuˈmeɪʃəs/
IPA/ˌkɑːntuˈmeɪʃəs/

contumacious — adjective

  • contumaciouspositive
  • more contumaciouscomparative
  • most contumacioussuperlative

1. deliberately refusing to follow a court order or legal instruction, showing open

1.形容詞C2
釋義

deliberately refusing to follow a court order or legal instruction, showing open disrespect for the authority of the law.

例句

The judge held the contumacious witness in contempt for refusing to answer clearly.

hold + contumacious + in contempt — legal collocation

A contumacious defendant who ignores court orders may face additional penalties.

attributive use: contumacious defendant

同義詞
  • recalcitrant

    focuses on resisting authority especially in a disciplinary context; common in both legal and workplace settings

  • defiant

    broader and less formal; can describe any open resistance without implying legal consequences

反義詞

用法筆記

Primarily used in legal proceedings; a party described as contumacious is seen as showing contempt for the court's authority, not merely failing to comply.

常見錯誤

❌The contumacious employee was fired for arriving late.
✅The contumacious employee was fired for openly defying the manager's direct orders.
💡contumacious implies deliberate defiance of authority, not just rule-breaking.
❌He was contumacious about paying his taxes on time.
✅The court found the taxpayer contumacious for repeatedly ignoring its summons.
💡in legal contexts, contumacious refers to defiance of a court's authority, not general non-compliance.

2. showing a stubborn and deliberate refusal to do what someone in a position of au

2.形容詞C1
釋義

showing a stubborn and deliberate refusal to do what someone in a position of authority tells you to do, especially when this defiance is repeated or prolonged.

例句

The headteacher suspended the contumacious student after a fifth warning.

attributive use with institutional authority

Tunde's contumacious behaviour towards his supervisors eventually cost him the promotion.

同義詞
  • obstinate

    focuses on stubbornness rather than defiance of authority; can apply to non-authority situations

  • willful

    emphasises deliberate, intentional action; slightly less formal than contumacious

  • insubordinate

    specifically describes refusal to obey a superior, common in military and workplace settings

  • rebellious

    suggests active resistance against established authority; more emotional in tone

反義詞
  • obedient

    willing to do what one is told

  • docile

    easily taught or led; passive compliance

用法筆記

Highly formal; almost never used in everyday conversation. When applied to children or students, the tone is deliberately stern or literary.

常見錯誤

❌She was contumacious about eating vegetables.
✅She was contumacious about following the school dress code.
💡contumacious is too formal for trivial personal matters and implies defiance of an authority figure.