balky
(redirected from balkiest)Also found in: Thesaurus.
balky
pigheaded; contrary; stubborn; obstinate; perverse; mulish: The balky child refused to put on her shoes.
Not to be confused with:
bulky – large and cumbersome; massive; ponderous; unwieldy: The bulky package was hard to maneuver through the door.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
balk·y
(bô′kē)adj. balk·i·er, balk·i·est
1. Given to stopping and refusing to go on: a balky horse; a balky client.
2. Difficult to operate or start: a balky switch; a balky engine.
balk′i·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
balky
(ˈbɔːkɪ; ˈbɔːlkɪ) orbaulky
adj, balkier, balkiest, baulkier or baulkiest
inclined to stop abruptly and unexpectedly: a balky horse.
ˈbalkily, ˈbaulkily adv
ˈbalkiness, ˈbaulkiness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
balk•y
(ˈbɔ ki)adj. balk•i•er, balk•i•est.
given to balking; stubborn; obstinate.
[1840–50]
balk′i•ly, adv.
balk′i•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. |  balky - stopping short and refusing to go on; "a balking"; "a balky mule"; "a balky customer"intractable - not tractable; difficult to manage or mold; "an intractable disposition"; "intractable pain"; "the most intractable issue of our era"; "intractable metal" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
balky
adjectiveGiven to acting in opposition to others:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.