refractory

IPA/rɪˈfræktəri/
KK[rəfrˈæktɚi]IPA/rɪˈfræktəri/

refractory — adjective

  • refractorypositive
  • more refractorycomparative
  • most refractorysuperlative

1. describes a disease, medical condition, or biological material that does not res

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a disease, medical condition, or biological material that does not respond to a treatment or to a physical or chemical process that would normally affect it.

Example

Linh's cancer was refractory to chemotherapy, and the medical team recommended trying a different drug.

refractory to + noun (treatment name)

Mateo's skin infection remained refractory even after three creams, so the doctor prescribed stronger medicine.

Common collocations
  • refractory to treatment
  • refractory disease
  • refractory cancer
  • refractory to antibiotics
  • refractory pain
Synonyms
  • resistant

    more common and less formal; used in both medical and everyday contexts

  • unresponsive

    focuses on the lack of reaction rather than active resistance; common in medical writing

  • immune

    implies complete protection rather than mere lack of response; used differently in immunology

Antonyms
  • responsive

    describes a condition that reacts well to treatment

  • treatable

    can be helped by medical care

Grammar Patterns

refractory to + noun (treatment / therapy / drug)

Usage Note

Frequently used with the preposition 'to' to specify the treatment or process the subject resists. The subject is typically a disease (cancer, infection), a symptom (fever, pain), or a cell type.

Common Mistakes

The disease was refractory for treatment.
The disease was refractory to treatment.
use 'to', not 'for', after 'refractory'.

2. describes a person, animal, or behaviour that is stubborn and refuses to obey in

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a person, animal, or behaviour that is stubborn and refuses to obey instructions, follow rules, or accept authority.

Example

Tanvi's new puppy was refractory and would not obey even simple commands like 'sit'.

refractory + noun (animal)

Kenji found the group of teenagers refractory, with several students refusing to open their books.

find + noun + refractory

Common collocations
  • refractory child
  • refractory student
  • refractory behaviour
  • refractory horse
  • refractory teenager
Synonyms
  • stubborn

    more common and less formal; can apply to opinions as well as behaviour

  • defiant

    emphasises open resistance to authority rather than general disobedience

  • unruly

    focuses on lack of discipline and disorderly behaviour

Antonyms
  • obedient

    willing to follow rules and instructions

  • compliant

    ready to accept orders; more formal than 'obedient'

  • docile

    quiet and easy to control

Grammar Patterns

refractory + noun (child / student / animal / behaviour)

Usage Note

Stronger and more formal than 'difficult' or 'naughty'. Often used in writing about classroom management, parenting, or animal training. Less common in everyday conversation than 'stubborn' or 'defiant'.

Common Mistakes

The boy was very refractory and naughty.
The boy was refractory and refused to follow any instructions.
'refractory' implies active defiance of authority, not just mischief.

refractory — noun

Word family

  • refractorily
    adverbC2
  • refractoriness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe a refusal to obey or change, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Stubborn' is the most common and neutral — it can apply to opinions ('a stubborn belief'), habits ('stubborn dirt'), or behaviour, and it does not always imply conflict with authority. 'Refractory', by contrast, always implies resistance to authority or control and is more formal, often used in written reports about classroom management or institutional discipline. 'Defiant' emphasises open, active resistance that challenges authority directly ('a defiant protest'), while 'unruly' focuses on disorderly, chaotic behaviour rather than intentional disobedience ('an unruly crowd'). 'Obstinate' is close in meaning but suggests rigid, unreasonable persistence even when proven wrong. For example: a stubborn child might keep insisting on a bedtime story; a refractory student refuses to follow the teacher's instructions; a defiant teenager talks back to the principal; an unruly group of fans throws things onto the pitch.

stubborn ↗defiant ↗unruly ↗obstinate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • refractory period
  • refractory material
  • refractory patient

Adverbs

  • medically refractory
  • stubbornly refractory
  • clinically refractory

Phrases

  • prove refractory
  • remain refractory
  • become refractory

Prepositions

  • refractory to

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'refractarius' (stubborn, obstinate), which comes from 'refringere' (to break up), formed from 're-' (back, away) + 'frangere' (to break). The original sense was about a person who 'breaks away' from control or refuses to yield. The medical meaning — describing a disease that cannot be 'broken' or overcome by treatment — developed in the 19th century. The material science sense (referring to substances that resist high heat without melting) emerged around the same period, drawing on the same idea of withstanding pressure.

First known use

1606

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun