adamant
Americanadjective
-
utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc.
- Synonyms:
- uncompromising, rigid, inflexible
-
too hard to cut, break, or pierce.
noun
-
any impenetrably or unyieldingly hard substance.
-
a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness, formerly sometimes identified with the diamond.
adjective
-
unshakable in purpose, determination, or opinion; unyielding
-
a less common word for adamantine
noun
-
any extremely hard or apparently unbreakable substance
-
a legendary stone said to be impenetrable, often identified with the diamond or loadstone
Other Word Forms
- adamance noun
- adamancy noun
- adamantly adverb
- unadamant adjective
Etymology
Origin of adamant
First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Old French adamaunt, from Latin adamant- (stem of adamas ) “hard metal (perhaps steel), diamond,” from Greek, equivalent to a- a- 6 + -damant- verbal adjective of damân “to tame, conquer”; replacing Old English athamans (from Medieval Latin ) and Middle English aymont, from Middle French aimant, from unattested Vulgar Latin adimant-, from Latin
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.
One UK expat who was at the beach at the time of the shooting says everyone he speaks to is adamant this will not change Bondi, or Australia.
From BBC
My husband is adamant about keeping it this way as he still wants his daughter to take responsibility for her life and her choices.
From MarketWatch
He is adamant the 20-year-old's chances of a first Premier League start of the season will not be affected by it.
From BBC
The memo reports the department’s response: It was “adamant that no accommodation would be given and that they would not reach out to the attorney.”
Nancy said he recognises that the ongoing turmoil is "difficult" for the Celtic fans, but the 48-year-old is adamant that he can see improvements.
From BBC
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.
