refrattario

resistant, refractory

adjective reh-fraht-TAH-ryoh Rare

Origin: Latin refractarius, from refringere 'to break back'

Also means

fireproof (materials)

Usage Note

Refrattario has two distinct fields: in physics and engineering it describes materials that withstand extreme heat (mattoni refrattari = firebricks); in human contexts it means stubbornly resistant or immune to something (refrattario alle critiche = impervious to criticism). The two senses are genuinely distinct.

Examples

"È refrattario a qualsiasi forma di critica."

Natural Translation

He is resistant to any form of criticism.

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