What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recalcitrance
Example
Despite repeated warnings, his recalcitrance led to his dismissal from the job. [recalcitrance: noun]
Example
The horse's recalcitrance made it difficult for the trainer to teach it new tricks. [recalcitrance: noun]
unruliness
Example
The teacher had a hard time dealing with the unruliness of the students during recess. [unruliness: noun]
Example
The unruliness of the waves made it difficult for the boat to stay on course. [unruliness: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unruliness is more commonly used than recalcitrance in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Recalcitrance is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as legal or academic writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recalcitrance and unruliness?
Recalcitrance is more formal than unruliness, and it is often used in legal or academic contexts. Unruliness is more informal and is commonly used in everyday language.
