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
After balky hamstrings saddled him with an injury-prone label, Fulton has set career highs for tackles (51) and games (15).
—
Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Missing the final week in Arizona with a balky back didn’t keep centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee off the Giants’ Opening Day roster, but in somewhat of a surprise, infielder Christian Koss will be on the bench in Cincinnati instead of outfielder Grant McCray or infielder Brett Wisely.
—Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
But Musgrove’s balky elbow finally gave out in the wild-card series against the Braves.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Starting guard Norman Powell, who returned to the court after missing five games because of a balky left knee, headed to the locker room after playing nine minutes because of a sore right hamstring.
—Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balky
Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Missing the final week in Arizona with a balky back didn’t keep centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee off the Giants’ Opening Day roster, but in somewhat of a surprise, infielder Christian Koss will be on the bench in Cincinnati instead of outfielder Grant McCray or infielder Brett Wisely.
—Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
But Musgrove’s balky elbow finally gave out in the wild-card series against the Braves.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
Starting guard Norman Powell, who returned to the court after missing five games because of a balky left knee, headed to the locker room after playing nine minutes because of a sore right hamstring.
—Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balky
Adjective
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Inspired by 1953’s The Wild One starring Marlon Brando, the song and video captures the rebellious spirit of the cult classic, with scenes of a motorcycle being driven on an open road and birds in flight.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2025
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Many historians estimate that at least 15 to 20 percent of the population remained loyal to the crown, some even taking up arms against their rebellious neighbors and fighting alongside the British.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Then, the detainees were executed, dressed in rebel uniforms, and reported as combat kills with many buried in anonymous graves in cemeteries.—
John Otis,
NPR,
27 May 2025
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Here romantic passion combines with revolution in a historical fiction sure to light up readers’ rebel hearts.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Bowser’s shifting response on immigration matters is one of a number of ways the mayor, a leading figure in the Democratic resistance during Trump’s first term, is now striking a less defiant tone.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
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Moxley took out Nightingale to massive heat, and Omega hit a snap-dragon suplex on a defiant Marina Shafir.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Jet fuel rolled down the street and the smell of it lingered in the air while authorities worked to extinguish one stubborn car fire that sent smoke billowing up.—
John Hanna,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2025
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Of course, stubborn coach Tom Thibodeau went with his only play, a Jalen Brunson iso, while the starters huffed and puffed from playing nearly the entire game.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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In response, these recalcitrant members of Congress simply refused to adopt must-pass federal reapportionment legislation.—
Made by History,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
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Among Congressional Republicans, Paul has been more recalcitrant than most.—
Eric Cortellessa,
TIME,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Grading for equity amounts to willful and moralized deception, including self-deception.—
The Editors,
National Review,
29 May 2025
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Hur, who was respectful of the aging president, declined to prosecute Joe Biden for his willful retention of classified documents found in Biden’s non-secure home garage.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
28 May 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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Our walk was a saunter, a delightful, wayward, exploratory street haunting, to use Virginia Woolf’s term for the adventure and discovery of walking in the city.—
Sarah Beckwith,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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Limit any pruning to removing dead wood or truly wayward branches.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balky. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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