stubborn
Americanadjective
-
unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving.
a stubborn child.
- Synonyms:
- obdurate, headstrong, unyielding, refractory, intractable, contrary
- Antonyms:
- tractable
-
fixed or set in purpose or opinion; resolute.
a stubborn opponent of foreign aid.
- Synonyms:
- persevering
- Antonyms:
- irresolute
-
obstinately maintained, as a course of action.
a stubborn resistance.
-
difficult to manage or suppress.
a stubborn horse; a stubborn pain.
-
hard, tough, or stiff, as stone or wood; difficult to shape or work.
adjective
-
refusing to comply, agree, or give in; obstinate
-
difficult to handle, treat, or overcome
-
persistent and dogged
a stubborn crusade
Usage
Where does stubborn come from? The origin of stubborn is itself fittingly stubborn, or "unreasonably obstinate." We might assume stubborn is connected to stub, a "short, projecting part or remaining piece" that is often immovable and unyielding. But that just doesn't seem to be true. Stubborn is recorded around 1350–1400 and took such forms as stiborn(e), styborne, and stuborn. Beyond that, we just don't really know. Thanks for nothing, stubborn. Stubborn isn’t alone: it finds lots of company in other English words that seem simple but whose origins are not. Discover more in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We Don’t Know Where They Came From."
Related Words
Stubborn, dogged, obstinate, persistent imply fixity of purpose or condition and resistance to change. Stubborn and obstinate both imply resistance to advice, entreaty, remonstrance, or force; but stubborn implies more of innate quality and is the more frequently used when referring to inanimate things: stubborn disposition; stubborn difficulties. Dogged implies pertinacity and grimness in doing something, especially in the face of discouragements: dogged determination. Persistent implies having staying or lasting qualities, resoluteness, and perseverance: persistent questioning.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stubborn
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English stiborn(e), styborne, stuborn ; origin uncertain
Explanation
Use the adjective stubborn to describe someone who is not open to new ideas or ways of doing things, like your uncle who refuses to listen to any music made after 1990. Stubborn is the opposite of flexible. The Middle English version of stubborn carried the sense of “untamable, implacable,” and there’s still a hint of that in how it is used today. A stubborn person holds on to a view or an attitude, refusing to change — to the point of being unreasonable. Things can also be stubborn, like a stain that no amount of scrubbing can clean or a medical condition that, even with treatment, doesn't improve.
Vocabulary lists containing stubborn
The Cay
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Twelve Angry Men
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"What, of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?" Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
Asian markets fell Wednesday as surging bond yields and stubborn inflation concerns knocked an investor confidence already shaken by US President Donald Trump's renewed threats of striking Iran.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
A source close to him said: "Alan is stubborn and won't give up without a fight".
From BBC • May 12, 2026
The winner will confront a number of thorny issues, including high rents, a stubborn homelessness crisis and street lights stripped of copper wire.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
“The market reaction to the appointment of Heidi O’Neill reflects shareholder frustration with the board’s seemingly stubborn insistence on staying the course despite the challenges in the business,” Wilson said in the letter.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026
Molly was out, which was probably for the best, because Molly took stubborn to an art form and could not be convinced to trust Boaz.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
