obstinate
Americanadjective
-
firmly or stubbornly adhering to one's purpose, opinion, etc.; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or entreaty.
- Synonyms:
- pertinacious, refractory, inflexible, perverse, intractable, unbending, unyielding, obdurate, mulish
- Antonyms:
- tractable, submissive
-
characterized by inflexible persistence or an unyielding attitude; inflexibly persisted in or carried out.
obstinate advocacy of high tariffs.
-
not easily controlled or overcome.
the obstinate growth of weeds.
-
not yielding readily to treatment, as a disease.
adjective
-
adhering fixedly to a particular opinion, attitude, course of action, etc
-
self-willed or headstrong
-
difficult to subdue or alleviate; persistent
an obstinate fever
Related Words
See stubborn.
Other Word Forms
- obstinately adverb
- obstinateness noun
- superobstinate adjective
- superobstinately adverb
- superobstinateness noun
- unobstinate adjective
- unobstinately adverb
Etymology
Origin of obstinate
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin obstinātus (past participle of obstināre “to set one's mind on, be determined”), equivalent to ob- ob- + -stin-, combining form of stan- (derivative of stāre “to stand,” stand ) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
When someone is beyond stubborn, use the word obstinate instead: "You obstinate old mule! Get out of my way!" While stubborn may have positive or negative connotations, obstinate is most definitely negative, because it implies a kind of hard-headed determination not to change your mind even when it might be best to rethink your position. "The obstinate Man does not hold Opinions, but they hold him," wrote Samuel Butler way back in the seventeenth century. The word still does the trick if you want a put-down for someone you think is being a pig-headed fool or a stick in the mud.
Vocabulary lists containing obstinate
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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List 8
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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.
Her critical “confidence . . . is thrillingly anachronistic: obstinate, sure, but warming, too.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
The guard was obstinate in refusing to provide one.
From Salon • Aug. 21, 2025
"However, until now, the occupation continues to be obstinate over an agreement over the issues of the ceasefire and withdrawal, and has made no step forward," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2025
She represented this neighborhood during her 16 years on the City Council, and has little patience for obstinate bureaucracy.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2024
She had a book, but she wasn’t reading; her legs were thrown over the arm of her chair, one bare heel kicking, with obstinate, lethargic rhythm, at the wicker side.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
