OBSTINATE - Definition

Meaning of OBSTINATE

Pronunciation:		'âbstunit
	Sponsored Links:

WordNet Dictionary

	Definition:	[adj] persisting in a reactionary stand [adj] resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior" [adj] stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing [v] persist stubbornly; "he obstinates himself against all rational arguments"

	Synonyms:	contrary, cussed, disobedient, obdurate, perverse, stubborn, unreconstructed, unregenerate, unregenerated, unrepentant, wayward

	See Also:	hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

	Definition:	\Ob"stinate\, a. [L. obstinatus, p. p. of obstinare to set about a thing with firmness, to persist in; ob (see {Ob-}) + a word from the root of stare to stand. See {Stand}, and cf.{Destine}.] 1. Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; -- usually implying unreasonableness. I have known great cures done by obstinate resolution of drinking no wine. --Sir W. Temple. No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate. --Pope. Of sense and outward things. --Wordsworth. 2. Not yielding; not easily subdued or removed; as, obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions. Syn: Stubborn; inflexible; immovable; firm; pertinacious; persistent; headstrong; opinionated; unyielding; refractory; contumacious. See {Stubborn}. -- {Ob"stinately}, adv. -- {Ob"stinate*ness}, n.

Thesaurus Terms

	Related Terms:	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, ironbound, ironclad, ironhanded, iron-hard, 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, strongheaded, strong-willed, 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

HOME | ABOUT HYPERDICTIONARY