The DICT Development Group

  Recalcitrant \Re*cal"ci*trant\ (r[-e]*k[a^]l"s[i^]*trant), a.
     [L. recalcitrans, p. pr. of recalcitrare to kick back; pref.
     re- re- + calcitrare to kick, fr. calx heel. Cf.
     Inculcate.]
     Kicking back; recalcitrating; hence, showing repugnance or
     opposition; refractory.
     [1913 Webster]

  recalcitrant
       adj 1: marked by stubborn resistance to and defiant of authority or
              guidance; "a recalcitrant teenager"; "everything
              revolves around a refractory individual genius" [syn:
              refractory]
       2: marked by stubborn resistance to authority; "the University
          suspended the most recalcitrant demonstrators"

  145 Moby Thesaurus words for "recalcitrant":
     adamant, adversary, adversative, adverse, alien, antagonistic,
     anti, antipathetic, antithetic, at odds, averse, beyond control,
     bouncing, bounding, breachy, breakaway, clashing, competitive,
     complaining, con, conflicting, contradicting, contradictory,
     contrary, contumacious, counter, counteractant, counteracting,
     counteractive, countervailing, counterworking, cranky, cross,
     crotchety, cursory, defiant, deviant, differing, disaccordant,
     disagreeing, disinclined, disobedient, disputatious, disputing,
     dissentient, dissenting, dissident, enemy, firm, forced, fractious,
     headstrong, hostile, immovable, impatient of control, incorrigible,
     indisposed, indocile, indomitable, inflexible, inimical,
     insubordinate, insuppressible, intractable, involuntary,
     irrepressible, mutinous, negative, nonconformable, nonconforming,
     nonconformist, noncooperative, nonobservant, objecting, obstinate,
     obstreperous, obstructive, on the barricades, opponent, opposed,
     opposing, opposite, oppositional, oppositive, oppugnant, ornery,
     out of hand, overthwart, perfunctory, perverse, proof against,
     protesting, reactionary, reactionist, rebellious, rebounding,
     recoiling, recusant, refractory, reluctant, renitent, repellent,
     repercussive, repugnant, resilient, resistant, resisting,
     resistive, restive, retardant, retardative, revolutionary, rival,
     shrewish, springing, stiff, stubborn, sulky, sullen, unadaptable,
     unadjustable, unbending, unbiddable, uncompliant, unconforming,
     unconsenting, uncontrollable, uncooperative, undisciplined,
     unfavorable, unfriendly, ungovernable, unmalleable, unmanageable,
     unmoldable, unpropitious, unruly, unsubmissive, untoward,
     unwilling, unyielding, up in arms, wayward, wild, withstanding