unyielding
Americanadjective
-
unable to bend or be penetrated under pressure; hard.
The unyielding metal door resisted the intruder's attempts to force it open.
-
not apt to give way under pressure; inflexible; firm.
Despite her injuries, she maintained an unyielding determination to complete the marathon.
adjective
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not compliant, submissive, or flexible
his unyielding attitude
-
not pliable or soft
a firm and unyielding surface
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unyielding
Explanation
When things are unyielding, they won't stop, won't give, or won't bend. That includes stubborn, unyielding personalities and stiff, unyielding mattresses. You know people who never change their minds, even when they're wrong? You could say they're unyielding. This word refers to people who refuse to budge and never give up. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes it's just plain annoying. Physical things can be unyielding if they're hard or impossible to stop. A hurricane or tornado is unyielding, and so is a speeding train. When you see the word unyielding, think "Can't or won't be stopped."
Vocabulary lists containing unyielding
Power Prefix: un-
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Bush's Address on 9/11
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
That unyielding commitment to analytics is what makes their success this season so bizarre.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
“We do not pursue zero-sum deals. Our commitment to the rule of law, and our unyielding defense of human dignity, individual freedom and democracy share the same deep roots, the same unwavering dedication.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
But the unyielding scrutiny over dubious associations doesn’t cut both ways.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
But sometimes, those dark skies and unyielding downpour are a metaphor.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
Robin was so tired he felt as if every bone pushed through the straw to find the unyielding boards beneath him.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
