Synonyms for obstinate
- adjective
Most common
stubborn obdurate tenacious unyielding pig-headed hard-headed
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Stubborn — of an inanimate object, not easily subdued or removed
stubborn, obdurate, tenacious, unyielding, persistent, dogged, headstrong, stiff-necked, wayward, self-willed, resolute, inflexible, disobedient, intransigent, determined, intractable, uncompromising, recalcitrant, unbending, cantankerous, dour, strong-willed
2. Bloody-minded
pig-headed, hard-headed, bloody-minded informal UK, inveterate, opinionated, truculent
Other
unconquerable, bull headed, asinine, hide-bound, peremptory dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
Of an inanimate object, not easily subdued or removed.
an obstinate blockage in the pipe
- adj. 2
Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent.
Related words
- Word family
- obstinacy obstinately obstinateness
- Is a kind of
- hard
Choose the right word
The headstrong person is not to be stopped in his own course of action, while the obstinate and stubborn is not to be driven to another's way. The headstrong act; the obstinate and stubborn may simply refuse to stir.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- stubborn I'm not stubborn; i'm just always right, thats it.
- tenacious Metaphors are much more tenacious than facts.
- unyielding His unyielding character doesn't please me at all.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| obstinate | steady | |
| stubborn | rising | |
| tenacious | steady | |
| unyielding | rising | |
| obdurate | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- dour2
- 6 letters
- dogged1
- 7 letters
- wayward2, asinine3
- 8 letters
- stubborn2, resolute3, obdurate3
- 9 letters
- tenacious3, unbending3, truculent3
- 10 letters
- determined3, persistent3, inflexible4, unyielding3, headstrong2, inveterate4, peremptory4
- 11 letters
- intractable4, opinionated5, disobedient5
- 12 letters
- recalcitrant4, intransigent4, cantankerous4
- 13 letters
- unconquerable
- 14 letters
- uncompromising5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (dour2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- obstiné
- Italiano
- ostinato
- Deutsch
- eigensinnig
- Català
- obstinat