uncompromising
Americanadjective
-
not admitting of compromise or adjustment of differences; making no concessions; inaccessible to flexible bargaining; unyielding.
an uncompromising attitude.
-
without reservation or exception; undeviating; absolute, as believing in or adhering to a principle, position, or the like.
an uncompromising abolitionist.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of uncompromising
First recorded in 1820–30; un- 1 + compromise ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Someone who's uncompromising stubbornly refuses to change their opinions or accommodate other people's ideas. Your mom's uncompromising prohibition on snacks in the living room may keep some friends away from your movie nights. If you're uncompromising, you don't compromise, or meet people halfway, making some concessions to what they want. Sometimes this is a sign of power and dedication: "Her uncompromising focus on civil rights helped the movement's advance." It can also be evidence of inflexibility and stubbornness: "The President's uncompromising style resulted in many vetoes and little progress."
Vocabulary lists containing uncompromising
Novel Study: Fences, Introduction and Act 1
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Sydney Poitier (1927–2022) Tribute List
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Lincoln's Spymaster
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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.
This culinary artist is one of that clan of uncompromising foodie obsessives who are beginning to become a cliché in popular culture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Nathan Lane was in a tight race with John Lithgow, who won for his ruthlessly uncompromising portrayal of a wrathful and dyspeptic Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt’s “Giant.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
China's government launched an "uncompromising" investigation into the explosion, vowing to severely punish those responsible, and ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining activities, Xinhua said Saturday evening.
From Barron's ● May 23, 2026
Muhammad Ali was the same way as Miles, so uncompromising.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
Though they are home they are disconcerted by the space, by the uncompromising silence that surrounds them.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
