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
Or trying to pay when the driver had no change or only a balky credit card device?
—
Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Getting Mitchell off the ball more also balanced the offense and eased the load on Mitchell’s balky knees … and worked so well that the Cavs led the league in offensive efficiency.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The reality is Stroman’s struggles began long before the bad weather and balky knee on Friday.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for balky
Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Getting Mitchell off the ball more also balanced the offense and eased the load on Mitchell’s balky knees … and worked so well that the Cavs led the league in offensive efficiency.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The reality is Stroman’s struggles began long before the bad weather and balky knee on Friday.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for balky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balky
Adjective
-
The chancellor is caught between febrile bond markets worried about government debt levels across advanced economies and rebellious Labour lawmakers who recently forced the government to pull back on reforms to welfare spending.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
22 July 2025
-
Once Audrey Hepburn was seen in a pair of the prototypical capri pants, everyone wanted to own them, and de Lennart’s hero product was later donned by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor: appreciated for its originally rebellious intentions and modern-woman appeal.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
The country is currently led by former rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa who was appointed transitional president last March, having acted as its de-facto leader following Al-Assad’s flight to Russia.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 July 2025
-
The president led 15,000 federalized militiamen from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania into the west—though no rebel army materialized to oppose them.—
Time,
Time,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
On Monday, asked about the poll proposal at an unrelated event, Adams was defiant.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
-
Trump's defiant response in Butler, Penn., may have fueled his big Election Day gains among male voters.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
But earth sign parents can also lean toward being stubborn and strict, which may cause friction during a stand off or while navigating discipline or tough conversations.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
15 July 2025
-
If using for very stubborn stains, use Oxy Bleach powder, which will be gentler and less destructive.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Likewise, Elon Musk, one of the world's most effective transmitters of AGI hype, announced safety assurances that cleverly imply a willful or dangerous AI.—
Eric Siegel,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Maya Hernandez was charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of willful cruelty to a child in the death on June 29 of the 1-year-old boy and the hospitalization of a 2-year-old who survived.—
Cristian Santana,
NBC news,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
In some ways, Paul has been less obstreperous than them.—
Eric Cortellessa,
TIME,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Alone and shockingly baby-faced, Logan encounters a similarly wayward Rogue (Anna Paquin).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
-
His sprawling hands corralled loose balls and wayward shots with ease.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balky. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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