recusant
noun
re·cu·sant ˈre-kyə-zənt 
ri-ˈkyü-
1
: an English Roman Catholic of the time from about 1570 to 1791 who refused to attend services of the Church of England and thereby committed a statutory offense
2
: one who refuses to accept or obey established authority
recusant adjective
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The uniform of the conformist — sports shirt, cardigan, tennis shoes — is as easily recognized as that of the recusant — dirty white T, sideburns, two days’ growth of beard. 
Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 15 July 2019
Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 15 July 2019 Word History
Etymology
Latin recusant-, recusans, present participle of recusare to reject, oppose, from re- + causari to give a reason, from causa cause, reason
First Known Use
circa 1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
recusant
adjective
re·cu·sant
ˈre-kyə-zənt, ri-ˈkyü-
: refusing to submit to authority
the recusant witness failed to appear despite a subpoena
recusants
noun
as in oppositionists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- oppositionists
- resisters
- resistants
- rebels
- mutineers
- refusers
- insurgents
- challengers
- defiers
- revolutionists
- revolters
- revolutionaries
- insurrectionists
- radicals
- reds
- anarchists
- extremists
- discontents
- anarchs
- insubordinates
- insurrectionaries
- malcontents
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- patriots
- loyalists
- supporters
- counterrevolutionaries
- counterinsurgents
- counterrevolutionists
- Broad Churchman
- broad command pennant
- broad fold
- broad form
- broad gage
- broad glass
- broad goods
- broad hatchet
- broad irrigation
- broad jump
- broad jumper
- broad knife
- broad mite
- broad off
- broad on
- broad pennant
- broad Scotch
- broad seal
- broad shad
- broad sole
- broad stone
- broad tapeworm
- broad tuning
- broad-base terrace
- broad-based