Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun refractory

1 sense of refractory

Sense 1
furnace lining, refractory -- (lining consisting of material with a high melting point; used to line the inside walls of a furnace)
       => lining, liner -- (a protective covering that protects an inside surface)

Antonyms of adj refractory

3 senses of refractory

Sense 1
refractory, stubborn -- (not responding to treatment; "a stubborn infection"; "a refractory case of acne"; "stubborn rust stains")

INDIRECT (VIA intractable) -> tractable, manipulable -- (easily managed (controlled or taught or molded); "tractable young minds"; "the natives...being...of an intelligent tractable disposition"- Samuel Butler)

Sense 2
refractory -- (temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to nervous or sexual stimuli; "the refractory period of a muscle fiber")

INDIRECT (VIA unresponsive) -> responsive -- (readily reacting or replying to people or events or stimuli; showing emotion; "children are often the quickest and most responsive members of the audience")

Sense 3
fractious, refractory, recalcitrant -- (stubbornly resistant to authority or control; "a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness"; "a refractory child")

INDIRECT (VIA disobedient) -> obedient -- (dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority; "an obedient soldier"; "obedient children"; "a little man obedient to his wife"; "the obedient colonies...are heavily taxed; the refractory remain unburdened"- Edmund Burke)

Similarity of adj refractory

3 senses of refractory

Sense 1
refractory, stubborn -- (not responding to treatment; "a stubborn infection"; "a refractory case of acne"; "stubborn rust stains")
       => intractable (vs. tractable) -- (not tractable; difficult to manage or mold; "an intractable disposition"; "intractable pain"; "the most intractable issue of our era"; "intractable metal")

Sense 2
refractory -- (temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to nervous or sexual stimuli; "the refractory period of a muscle fiber")
       => unresponsive (vs. responsive) -- (not responding to some influence or stimulus)

Sense 3
fractious, refractory, recalcitrant -- (stubbornly resistant to authority or control; "a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness"; "a refractory child")
       => disobedient (vs. obedient) -- (not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority; "disobedient children")