obstinate
Americanadjective
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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
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.
As an evocation of a remarkable figure, by turns obstinate and unexpectedly endearing, Longford’s book remains unsurpassed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
While the central meaning of all this has yet to be revealed, Seehorn’s performance of Carol’s obstinate loneliness is wrenchingly genuine to anyone who has ever felt alone in a sea of smiling strangers.
From Salon • Dec. 17, 2025
But he added, he is "a pretty obstinate person".
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2024
Mr. Orban has become not only more obstinate, in the view of his E.U. partners, but also harder to read.
From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2024
As his position became more controversial, Neylan became ever more obstinate.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
