Refractory

C2 16+

Pronunciation: /rɪˈfræktəri/

Definitions of refractory

adjective stubborn or unmanageable, resistant to treatment or control

Example Sentences

A1 The refractory child refused to eat his vegetables.

A2 The refractory student kept talking in class despite being told to be quiet.

B1 The refractory employee was resistant to following company policies.

B2 The refractory teenager continued to break the rules despite multiple warnings.

C1 The refractory patient refused to take the prescribed medication.

C2 The refractory prisoner refused to cooperate with the authorities.

Examples of refractory in a Sentence

formal The patient's condition was refractory to the standard treatment options.

informal No matter what we tried, the stain on the carpet was refractory to all cleaning products.

slang I can't believe how refractory my computer is acting today, it won't even turn on!

figurative Her refractory attitude towards change made it difficult for the team to implement new ideas.

Grammatical Forms of refractory

past tense

refracted

plural

refractories

comparative

more refractory

superlative

most refractory

present tense

refracts

future tense

will refract

perfect tense

have refracted

continuous tense

is refracting

singular

refractory

positive degree

refractory

infinitive

to refract

gerund

refracting

participle

refracted

Origin and Evolution of refractory

First Known Use: 1400 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'refractory' originates from the Latin word 'refractarius', which means stubborn or obstinate.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'refractory' has evolved to also mean resistant to heat or difficult to control, in addition to its original meaning of stubborn or obstinate.