* Formal/Technical: "The refractory bricks lining the furnace are designed to withstand extreme temperatures."
* Medical: "Despite the doctor's best efforts, the patient remained refractory to treatment."
* Figurative: "Her stubborn streak made her refractory to any attempt at compromise."
Remember: "Refractory" can have different meanings depending on the context. The meaning can be literal (resistant to heat, like a brick), medical (resistant to treatment), or figurative (resistant to change or influence).