as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
a balky toddler who only seemed to know the word "no" when told to do something
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Recent Examples of balky
The Rams’ standout quarterback participated in a team workout on Monday for the first time since camp opened, as Stafford and L.A. manages his balky back.
—
Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
And there are myriad issues for SpaceX's engineers to solve, from engine reliability and the ship's resonant frequency, to beefing up the ship's heat shield and fixing its balky payload bay door.
—ArsTechnica, 19 June 2025
After winning the first two sets in tiebreaks, Fils fell off a cliff, struggling with his balky back and cramps.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The only thing the matter with him was a balky hamstring that kept him out of 24 games.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for balky
Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
And there are myriad issues for SpaceX's engineers to solve, from engine reliability and the ship's resonant frequency, to beefing up the ship's heat shield and fixing its balky payload bay door.
—ArsTechnica, 19 June 2025
After winning the first two sets in tiebreaks, Fils fell off a cliff, struggling with his balky back and cramps.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The only thing the matter with him was a balky hamstring that kept him out of 24 games.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for balky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balky
Adjective
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According to the researchers, teenage men tend to favor intense, rebellious genres that fuel identity and independence in a phase that peaks early.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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But the couple have yet to conceive an heir, so when Jerome absconds and his dashing friend Manfred (Galitzine) arrives with dastardly intentions, Hero (Corrin), Cherry’s wily and loyal maid, is forced to concoct a plan to distract Manfred by telling captivating stories about rebellious women.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The 64-year-old actor famously portrays rebel leader Morpheus, captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, in the hit sci-fi action film franchise.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
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The palace officials assured them the president was there, hashing out a plan with his military and Russian and Iranian advisers to confront the advancing rebel forces.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On Monday afternoon, Petro remained defiant.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
21 Oct. 2025
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This Irish American neighborhood is famous for its quirky upside-down traffic light, where green proudly sits above red—a symbol of its defiant community spirit.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Month over month, that would be the same stubborn pace that has persisted for more than two years.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
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Results show that microbial iron mining can immobilize toxic metals and convert stubborn pollutants into less harmful compounds.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Ukraine has seen Europe step financially and militarily into the void left by America, and then seen the same recalcitrant White House offer them its best missiles.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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William meanwhile remained recalcitrant.—
Stacy Schiff,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The spokesperson said that an immigration judge had terminated his permanent resident status and ordered his removal on June 23, 2022, citing fraud and willful misrepresentation.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Tessa Thompson stars as the willful heroine, married to a rather meek academic, George Tesman (Tom Bateman), who’s angling for an important university position.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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All at once, Vance had made an obstreperous return to the center of the national stage—and so did the memes.—
Jessica Winter,
The New Yorker,
19 Mar. 2025
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In some ways, Paul has been less obstreperous than them.—
Eric Cortellessa,
TIME,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Fortunately, many of us live in communities of fellow pet lovers who are willing and ready to keep an eye out for wayward animals.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
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Tennessee’s big cats are mostly of the bobcat variety, but one wayward mountain lion captured the state’s attention.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balky. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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