Re‐frac″to‐ry (–r?), a. [L. refractorius, fr. refringere: cf. F. refractaire. See Refract.] 1. Obstinate in disobedience; contumacious; stubborn; unmanageable; as, a refractory child; a refractory beast.
Raging appetites that are
Most disobedient and refractory. Shak.
2. Resisting ordinary treatment; difficult of fusion, reduction, or the like; — said especially of metals and the like, which do not readily yield to heat, or to the hammer; as, a refractory ore.
Syn. — Perverse; contumacious; unruly; stubborn; obstinate; unyielding; ungovernable; unmanageable.