Contumacious and Deferential
Opposite meaning words
Contumacious
Contumacious adjective - Given to resisting authority or another's control.
Usage example: the judge threatened to charge the contumacious witness with contempt of court
Deferential is an antonym for contumacious.
Nearby Word: contumacy
Deferential
Deferential adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.
Contumacious is an antonym for deferential.
Cite this Source
Deferential and Contumacious. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contumacious/deferential
Contumacious & Deferential. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contumacious/deferential>.
Deferential or Contumacious. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contumacious/deferential.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "contumacious" and "deferential" have occurred on timeline