Recalcitrant: meaning and SAT practice

Recalcitrant (adjective) means: Stubbornly refusing to obey or comply with rules.

Recalcitrant in a sentence

The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher's instructions during class.

Similar: defiant, stubborn, obstinate, rebellious. Opposite: obedient, compliant, cooperative.

SAT-style practice: what does “recalcitrant” most nearly mean?

The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher's instructions during class.

As used in the sentence, “recalcitrant” most nearly means

  1. unnecessary
  2. defiant
  3. hasty
  4. dark
Show the answer

Answer: B. “recalcitrant” means: Stubbornly refusing to obey or comply with rules. “defiant” is the closest match in this sentence. The other choices are real SAT-level words, but none of them carries that meaning here.

On the digital SAT this is the “Words in Context” skill, about 7 of the 54 Reading and Writing questions. The test asks what a word means as used in the passage, so a word’s most common meaning is not always the answer. More of these, with full explanations, are on SAT Words in Context practice questions.

  • contumacious: Stubbornly resisting authority or refusing to obey.
  • implacable: Unable to be calmed down or made less angry and determined.
  • incorrigible: Someone who cannot be corrected or reformed despite efforts.
  • intractable: Difficult to manage, control, or solve despite efforts.
  • intransigent: Unwilling to compromise or change one's position on something.
  • obdurate: Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

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