obstinate

[ ob-stuh-nit ]

/ ˈɒb stə nɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: obstinate / obstinately / obstinateness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

firmly or stubbornly adhering to one's purpose, opinion, etc.; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

characterized by inflexible persistence or an unyielding attitude; inflexibly persisted in or carried out: obstinate advocacy of high tariffs.

not easily controlled or overcome: the obstinate growth of weeds.

not yielding readily to treatment, as a disease.

OTHER WORDS FOR obstinate

1 mulish, obdurate, unyielding, unbending, intractable, perverse, inflexible, refractory, pertinacious.

See synonyms for obstinate on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR obstinate

1 submissive, tractable.

See antonyms for obstinate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of obstinate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin obstinātus (past participle of obstināre “to set one's mind on, be determined”), equivalent to ob-ob- + -stin-, combining form of stan- (derivative of stāre “to stand,” stand) + -ātus-ate¹

synonym study for obstinate

1. See stubborn.

OTHER WORDS FROM obstinate

ob·sti·nate·ly, adverbob·sti·nate·ness, nounsu·per·ob·sti·nate, adjectivesu·per·ob·sti·nate·ly, adverb

su·per·ob·sti·nate·ness, nounun·ob·sti·nate, adjectiveun·ob·sti·nate·ly, adverb

Words nearby obstinate

obstet., obstetric, obstetrician, obstetrics, obstinacy, obstinate, obstipation, obstreperous, obstruct, obstruction, obstructionist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use obstinate in a sentence

Those who may have been obstinate about the vaccines when called by a pollster seem to have been a bit more flexible when called by their bosses.
Turns out a lot of those never-vaxxers were really ‘I’ll get it if required’|Philip Bump|September 30, 2021|Washington Post
In Illinois, one parent was so obstinate in her refusal to properly wear her mask, she was arrested and banned from school grounds.
‘COVID Has Broken You People’: Pennsylvania School District Melts Down Over Mask Battle|Justin Rohrlich|September 1, 2021|The Daily Beast
While some people may face legitimate obstacles, others are just obstinate.
Yes, Covid-19 vaccine mandates are legal|Ian Millhiser|July 30, 2021|Vox
Her call was greeted with skepticism by some who see unions as having been overly cautious or outright obstinate.
Teachers union chief calls for full return to school this fall|Laura Meckler|May 13, 2021|Washington Post

In practice, though, it’s a mechanism that allows a lone obstinate voice to deny the majority the ability to govern.
Why the Filibuster Defenders' Ranks Are Shrinking|Philip Elliott|March 11, 2021|Time
Obstinate Pierre refuses to care about anything, even when a passing lion threatens to eat him.
When Activism Is Worse Than Apathy|Nancy Kaffer|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The president also learned that the Palestinians and the Arab states were every bit as obstinate as Netanyahu.
From Washington To Sderot|Jonathan Rynhold|February 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The more the Republicans lose, the more stubborn and obstinate they become.
Starbucks’ Effort to Solve the Fiscal Cliff Probably Won’t Work|Daniel Gross|December 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It is the story of a village of unlikely Davids going up against a notoriously obstinate governmental Goliath.
The Power of Documentary: Danny Glover, Djimon Hounsou, and ‘Budrus’ Director Julia Bacha|Kevin Fallon|November 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He predicted the embattled and obstinate leader will fall in a matter of days.
A Strongman's Last Stand|Julia L. Ritchey|April 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The battle was for a long time maintained by both armies with obstinate energy.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Now this is what we call a "pursuit of knowledge under difficulties" of the most obstinate kind.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Obstinate as he was, the girl's frank honesty conquered the angry old man.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
They are sometimes obstinate and are desperate fighters, squealing and neighing on all occasions.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
The men in charge of the boat were slow and obstinate, and consequently it took a long time for all to get across the river.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike

British Dictionary definitions for obstinate

obstinate

/ (ˈɒbstɪnɪt) /

adjective

adhering fixedly to a particular opinion, attitude, course of action, etc

self-willed or headstrong

difficult to subdue or alleviate; persistentan obstinate fever

Derived forms of obstinate

obstinately, adverb

Word Origin for obstinate

C14: from Latin obstinātus, past participle of obstināre to persist in, from ob- (intensive) + stin-, variant of stare to stand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

obstinate

OTHER WORDS FOR obstinate

OPPOSITES FOR obstinate

Origin of obstinate

synonym study for obstinate

OTHER WORDS FROM obstinate

Words nearby obstinate

Words related to obstinate

How to use obstinate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obstinate

Derived forms of obstinate

Word Origin for obstinate