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1. Resistant to treatment, as of a disease. SYN: intractable (1), obstinate (2). 2. SYN: obstinate (1). [L. refractarius, fr. refringo, pp. -fractus, to break in pieces]
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re·frac·to·ry ri-'frak-t(ə-)rē adj
1) resistant to treatment or cure <a \refractory fulminant lesion> <had disease that was extremely \refractory to multiple intensive therapies (Michelle L. Bennett )(et al)>
2) unresponsive to stimulus <the \refractory period of a muscle fiber>
3) resistant or not responding to an infectious agent: IMMUNE <\refractory to reinfection>
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adj.
unresponsive: applied to a condition that fails to respond satisfactorily to a given treatment.
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re·frac·to·ry (re-frakґtə-re) [L. refractorius] 1. resistant to treatment. See also resistance. 2. not responding to a stimulus; see under period.Medical dictionary. 2011.