adamant

[ad-uh-muhnt, -mant]

adjective

1. utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc.

   Synonyms: uncompromising, rigid, inflexible
   Antonyms: yielding, easygoing, flexible

2. too hard to cut, break, or pierce.

noun

1. any impenetrably or unyieldingly hard substance.

2. a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness, formerly sometimes identified with the diamond.

adamant

/ ˈædəmənt /

adjective

1. unshakable in purpose, determination, or opinion; unyielding

2. a less common word for adamantine

noun

1. any extremely hard or apparently unbreakable substance

2. a legendary stone said to be impenetrable, often identified with the diamond or loadstone

Other Word Forms

• adamancy noun
• adamance noun
• adamantly adverb
• unadamant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of adamant¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of adamant¹

Old English: from Latin adamant-, stem of adamas, from Greek; literal meaning perhaps: unconquerable, from _a- ¹ + daman to tame, conquer

Example Sentences

Asked after the first Test if England would alter their plans and send players to Canberra, Stokes was adamant they would not.

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It's a complex situation, involving people from different local communities wanting a slice of the bus income, but Mr Caballero is adamant that Consettur is not a monopoly.

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However the trash-talking American was adamant on Friday that he has the tools to stop Joshua as the two men faced off in a promotional event for next month's Netflix special.

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He is adamant that “brands are going to be really important” as will the use of intellectual property.

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Everyone was too surprised to speak except Lady Constance, who was adamant about performing her duties as a hostess, despite the fact that she was swinging from a chandelier and had only recently stopped screaming.

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Related Words

• determined 
• insistent 
• intransigent 
• resolute 
• rigid 
• stubborn 
• uncompromising