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Obstinate
Stubbornly refusing to change one’s mind or course of action; unwilling to yield to reason or persuasion.
adjective💡
Imagine This
Ice cream and cake are obstacles for dieters. They must be obstinate about their diet. When you want to lose weight, you have to abstain from ice cream and cake, even though it looks tempting.
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Sounds Like
OB-STIH-nət
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Looks Like
Looks like: obstacle; abstain -> to restrain from indulging
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Remember This
Obstinacy and obstinately share the same root as obstinate; the word comes from Latin obstinatus meaning stubborn and persisting.
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Other Forms
obstinacynoun
obstinatelyadverb
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Note
Obstinate describes stubborn resistance to change and is often used of people or behavior; avoid using it for situations that are merely difficult but not willful.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The manager remained obstinate in sticking to the policy despite new data.
- She was obstinate about getting her own way, refusing to listen to others.
Synonyms
stubbornunyieldingobdurateintransigentadamant
Antonyms
flexibleamenablecompliant
Etymology
From Latin obstinatus 'stubborn, persistent', from obstinare 'to persist', from ob- 'toward' + tenere 'to hold'.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: OB-STIN-ATE: Think of OB against STINe (standing) and ATE as action — to stay against change; obstinate means to stand firm.
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Redundant
adjectiveNot needed or useful due to being repetitive or duplicative; containing unnecessary repetition.
Negligible
adjectiveSo small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; nearly negligible.
Exploit
verb (also noun)To make use of something, especially for gain or advantage; to use someone or something in an unethical or unfair way.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Obstinate
adjectiveStubbornly refusing to change one’s mind or course of action; unwilling to yield to reason or persuasion.
Compliant
adjectiveWilling to comply with rules, requests, or authority; ready to yield to others' wishes and conform to standards.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
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