WordValeobstinate
stubbornly refusing to change
In more detail
1. (adjective) refusing to change your opinion or stop doing something, even when other people think you are wrong
2. (adjective) difficult to deal with or change
Examples
- 1. He was obstinate and refused to admit he had made a mistake.
- 2. The obstinate stain wouldn't come out of the carpet no matter how hard we scrubbed.
How to use obstinate
Obstinate describes someone unwilling to change their position or behavior despite pressure or evidence to the contrary. It carries a negative judgment, implying unreasonableness, unlike the more neutral 'determined' or positive 'resolute'. It can also describe problems or conditions that resist solution. The word is more formal and literary than the colloquial 'stubborn'.
Common phrases
- obstinate refusal
- obstinate resistance
- obstinate determination
- prove obstinate
- remain obstinate
Synonyms
stubborn · pigheaded · intransigent · inflexible · unyielding
Opposites
flexible · compliant · yielding
Word family
obstinately (adverb) · obstinacy (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse obstinate with 'obstacle' or overuse it where 'determined' or 'persistent' would be more appropriate in contexts that don't involve judgment.
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