obstinacy
Americannoun
-
the quality or state of being obstinate; stubbornness.
-
unyielding or stubborn adherence to one's purpose, opinion, etc.
-
stubborn persistence.
The garrison fought on with incredible obstinacy.
-
resistance to cure, relief, or treatment, as a disease.
-
an instance of being obstinate; an obstinate act, viewpoint, etc.
noun
-
the state or quality of being obstinate
-
an obstinate act, attitude, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of obstinacy
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin obstinātia, from Latin obstinātus “determined” (adjective use of past participle of obstināre “to set one's mind on, be determined”; see obstinate) + -ia -y 3
Explanation
Obstinacy is the quality of firmly sticking to your own viewpoint or desires. If you’ve ever watched a persistent two-year-old who wants something she’s been denied, you’ve witnessed obstinacy at its purest. Adults show obstinacy too of course, when they refuse to be moved or change their mind. Obstinacy can also refer to a situation or trait that is hard to overcome, as in the obstinacy of a physics problem that will not be solved or molasses that will not be stirred. Obstinacy is a noun for obstinate behavior — it can also be called bullheadedness, pigheadedness, willfulness, and plain old stubbornness.
Vocabulary lists containing obstinacy
Power Suffix: -acy
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Born a Crime
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Arachne"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But how could she succeed when against her were arrayed triumphant Obstinacy, personified by Queen Victoria, and triumphant Cynicism in the person of Alexandra's own husband, later Edward VII?
From Time Magazine Archive
Eleven men of Minneapolis went to their homes last week to tell great tales of Woman's Obstinacy.
From Time Magazine Archive
Obstinacy rather than brilliance had enabled him to discover insulin.
From Time Magazine Archive
Charles Gildon, dismiss’d from the D——’s Pension and Favour, on Account of his Obstinacy in refusing to take the Oaths to P—pe’s Supremacy.
From Two Poems Against Pope One Epistle to Mr. A. Pope and the Blatant Beast by Guerinot, J. V. (Joseph V.)
Styles Received Some damage by his Obstinacy for not bringing too, having hulled him and tore his Sails.
From Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Illustrative Documents by Jameson, J. Franklin (John Franklin)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
