Dictionary Definition
obstinate adj
2 resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary
quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a
perverse mood"; "wayward behavior" [syn: contrary, perverse, wayward]
3 persisting in a reactionary stand [syn:
stubborn, unregenerate] v : persist
stubbornly; "he obstinates himself against all rational
arguments"
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
From obstinatus, past participle of obstino.Adjective
- Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; -- usually implying unreasonableness.
- Not yielding; not easily subdued or removed; as, obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions.
Quotations
- Benjamin Franklin: "Mr. Quincy labored hard with the governor to obtain his assent, but he was obstinate."
Synonyms
Derived terms
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
adamant, adherent, adhesive, adversary, adversative, adverse, alien, antagonistic, anti, antipathetic, antithetic, assiduous, balking, balky, beefy, bigoted, bloody-minded, bouncing, bound, bound and determined,
bulldogged, bulldoggish, bulldoggy, bulletheaded, bullheaded, case-hardened,
clashing, clingy, closed to, closed-minded,
committed, competitive, con, conflicting, constant, continuing, contradictory, contrary, contumacious, costive, counter, crabbed, cross, deaf, decided, decisive, dedicated, definite, determined, devoted, diligent, disaccordant, disobedient, dissentient, dogged, dogmatic, doughty, dour, earnest, enduring, enemy, faithful, fanatic, firm, fixed, forceful, forcible, forcy, fractious, froward, full-blooded,
full-strength, fundamentalist, gluey, glutinous, gummy, gutsy, gutty, hale, hard, hard as nails, hardheaded, hardy, headstrong, hearty, hefty, hidebound, hostile, husky, immovable, immutable, impersuadable, impersuasible, impervious, impliable, inalterable, indefatigable, indisciplined, indomitable, industrious, inexorable, inflexible, inimical, insistent, intolerant, intractable, intransigent, invincible, iron, iron-hard, ironbound, ironclad, ironhanded, lasting, lawless, loyal, lusty, mighty, mulish, muscle-bound, naughty, negative, nervy, never-tiring, nonconforming, noncooperative, obdurate, obstipated, opinionated, opponent, opposed, opposing, opposite, oppositional, oppositive, oppugnant, orthodox, overthwart, overzealous, patient, patient as Job,
permanent, perseverant, persevering, persistent, persisting, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, plodding, plugging, potent, powerful, preoccupied, procrustean, puissant, purist, puristic, puritan, puritanic, purposeful, rapt, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, red-blooded, refractory, relentless, renitent, repugnant, resistant, resolute, resolved, restive, rigid, rigorist, rigoristic, rigorous, rival, robust, robustious, rockbound, rugged, sedulous, self-adhesive,
self-willed, serious,
set, sincere, single-minded, sleepless, slogging, sot, stable, stalwart, staunch, steadfast, steady, steely, stickable, sticky, stiff, stiff-necked, stony, stout, straightlaced, straitlaced, strapping, strong, strong as brandy, strong
as strong, strong-willed, strongheaded, stubborn, sturdy, sulky, sullen, tacky, tenacious, tireless, tough, transgressive, unabating, unamenable, unbending, unchangeable, uncomplying, uncompromising, unconquerable, uncooperative, undaunted, undisciplined, undiscouraged, undrooping, unduteous, undutiful, unfailing, unfaltering, unfavorable, unflagging, unflinching, unfriendly, unimpressionable,
uninfluenceable,
unintermitting,
uninterrupted,
unmovable, unmoving, unnodding, unpersuadable, unpliable, unpliant, unpropitious, unreceptive, unregenerate, unrelaxing, unrelenting, unremitting, unresponsive, unsleeping, unsubmissive, unsuggestible, unsusceptible, unswayable, unswerving, untiring, unwavering, unwearied, unwearying, unwinking, unyielding, utterly
attentive, vigorous,
violative, viscid, wayward, weariless, wholehearted, willful, withstanding, wrongheaded