Contumaciousness

/kənˌtjuː.məˈʃəs.nəs/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being stubbornly defiant or rebellious; the characteristic of refusing to obey.

Etymology

From 'contumacious' + '-ness' (suffix forming abstract nouns). It creates a noun describing the state of being contumacious.

Kelly Says

Contumaciousness is the personality trait of people who can't help but resist authority—from teenagers to revolutionaries—and it's probably why some people become activists and others follow orders.

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