Dictionary.com

obstinate

[ ob-stuh-nit ]
/ ˈɒb stə nɪt /
See synonyms for: obstinate / obstinately / obstinateness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

firmly or stubbornly adhering to one's purpose, opinion, etc.; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or entreaty.
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.

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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-ate1

synonym study for obstinate

1. See stubborn.

OTHER WORDS FROM obstinate

Words nearby obstinate

obstetric conjugate of outlet, obstetrician, obstetrician-gynecologist, obstetrics, obstinacy, obstinate, obstipation, obstreperous, obstruct, obstructed testis, obstruction
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to obstinate

tenacious, steadfast, unyielding, inflexible, intransigent, recalcitrant, dogmatic, willful, adamant, headstrong, hardened, dogged, convinced, firm, resolved, cantankerous, contradictory, contrary, contumacious, hard

Example sentences from the Web for obstinate

British Dictionary definitions for obstinate

obstinate
/ (ˈɒbstɪnɪt) /

adjective

adhering fixedly to a particular opinion, attitude, course of action, etc
self-willed or headstrong
difficult to subdue or alleviate; persistentan obstinate fever

Derived forms of obstinate

obstinately, adverb

Word Origin for obstinate

C14: from Latin obstinātus, past participle of obstināre to persist in, from ob- (intensive) + stin-, variant of stare to stand
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for obstinate

obstinate
[ ŏb′stə-nĭt ]

adj.

Stubbornly adhering to an attitude, opinion, or course of action.
Difficult to alleviate or cure.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.