obdurate

American  

[ob-doo-rit, -dyoo-] / ˈɒb dʊ rɪt, -dyʊ- /

adjective

1. unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding.

   Synonyms:

   inflexible, unbending, callous, obstinate, hard

   Antonyms:

   tractable, soft

2. stubbornly resistant to moral influence; persistently impenitent.

   an obdurate sinner.

   Synonyms:

   shameless, reprobate, unregenerate

   Antonyms:

   repentant, humble

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obdurate British  

/ ˈɒbdjʊrɪt /

adjective

1. not easily moved by feelings or supplication; hardhearted

2. impervious to persuasion, esp to moral persuasion

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Other Word Forms

• obduracy noun
• obdurately adverb
• obdurateness noun
• unobdurate adjective
• unobdurately adverb
• unobdurateness noun

Etymology

Origin of obdurate

1400–50; late Middle English obdurat < Latin obdūrātus (past participle of obdūrāre to harden), equivalent to ob- ob- + dūr ( us ) hard + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

To the religious authorities in England in the early 16th century, an obdurate Oxford scholar became a public enemy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

But encountering “Dark” now, something else stands out: There is no way for a viewer to know for certain whether the word is really written on the underside, beneath all that obdurate tonnage.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2025

Its leader, Wayne LaPierre, was the face of obdurate resistance to regulations on firearms.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024

But wicketkeeper Jurel looked assured and Ashwin was typically obdurate.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2024

To get this far one had to have an uncommonly obdurate personality.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer