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definitions

balky

see definition of balky

adjuncooperative

Word Origin & History

1847, from balk (n.) + -y (2). Related: Balkily; balkiness.

Example Sentences for balky

He insisted doggedly on his rôle as a balky ox and scowled at the teamster.

You buy a lot of half-broken, bucking, balky teams because you can get 'em cheap.

The horse proved to be an obstreperous, balky thing, and as contrary as a mule.

It leaked, and it steered like a balky mule, but what of that?

I urged it, as a farmer urges a balky horse, but it refused to move forward.

Stover ...

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Synonyms for balky

adj uncooperative

unruly
averse
contrary
hesitant
immovable
indisposed
inflexible
intractable
loath
negative
negativistic
obstinate
ornery
perverse
reluctant
stubborn
unbending
unmanageable
unpredictable

Antonyms for balky

cooperative

More words related to balky

contrary

adjective. antagonistic; opposite

adverse
anti
antipathetic
antipodal
antipodean
antithetical
balky
clashing
conflicting
contradictory
contrariant
contumacious
converse
counter
diametric
discordant
dissentient
dissident
froward
headstrong
hostile
inconsistent
inimical
insubordinate
intractable
negative
nonconforming
nonconformist
obstinate
opposed
ornery
paradoxical
perverse
rebellious
recalcitrant
recusant
refractory
restive
reverse
stubborn
unruly
wayward
wrongheaded

froward

adjective. ornery

adverse
balky
contrary
cross
disobedient
headstrong
insubmissive
obstinate
peevish
perverse
petulant
refractory
stubborn
unfavorable
untoward
unyielding

incompliant

adjective. stubborn

adamant
adamantine
balky
brassbound
bullheaded
cantankerous
contumacious
cussed
determined
die-hard
dogged
firm
fixed
grim
hardheaded
headstrong
implacable
inexorable
inflexible
insubordinate
intractable
intransigent
iron
mule
mulish
obdurate
opinionated
ornery
persevering
persistent
pertinacious
perverse
pigheaded
rebellious
recalcitrant
refractory
relentless
remorseless
rigid
self-willed
set in one's ways
single-minded
steadfast
stiff-necked
tenacious
tough
unbendable
unbending
uncompliant
uncompromising
unmanageable
unreasonable
unrelenting
unshakable
untoward
unyielding
willful

more negative

adjective. bad, contradictory

abrogating
adverse
against
annulling
antagonistic
anti
balky
colorless
con
contrary
contravening
counteractive
cynical
denying
detrimental
disallowing
disavowing
dissentient
dissenting
gainsaying
gloomy
impugning
invalidating
jaundiced
naysaying
neutralizing
nugatory
nullifying
opposing
pessimistic
privative
recusant
refusing
rejecting
removed
repugnant
resisting
resistive
unaffirmative
unenthusiastic
unfavorable
uninterested
unwilling
weak

negative