What does "obdurate" mean?
To harden; to obdure.
Obdurate
/ˈɒbdʒʊɹɪt/ adj, verb
adj, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To harden; to obdure.
- Grammar: obdurate is listed as adj, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: obstinate, abandoned, adamant, asleep.
- Useful contrasts: remorseful, amenable, compassionate.
- Usage evidence: I tried everything I could think of to convince them to stop ruining their life, but they remained obdurate to the very end.
How to use "obdurate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "obdurate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "obdurate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "obdurate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "obdurate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "obdurate" is acting as adj, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "obstinate" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "obdurate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To harden; to obdure. obsolete, transitive
Adjective
- 1 Stubbornly persistent, generally in wrongdoing; refusing to reform or repent.
"[…] sometimes the very custom of evil making the heart obdurate against whatsoever instructions to the contrary […]"
- 2 Physically hardened, toughened. obsolete
"The past is obdurate for the same reason a turtle's shell is obdurate: because the living flesh inside is tender and defenseless."
- 3 Hardened against feeling; hard-hearted.
"I fear the gentleman to whom Miss Amelia's letters were addressed was rather an obdurate critic."
Adjective
- 1 showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings wordnet
- 2 stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing wordnet
Example
"I tried everything I could think of to convince them to stop ruining their life, but they remained obdurate to the very end."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "obdurate"?
Common synonyms include: obstinate, abandoned, adamant, asleep, become obstinate, benumbed.
How do you use "obdurate" in a sentence?
I tried everything I could think of to convince them to stop ruining their life, but they remained obdurate to the very end.
How do you pronounce "obdurate"?
Pronounced /ˈɒbdʒʊɹɪt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
First attested in the 1450's, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English obdurat(e), borrowed from Latin obdūrātus (“hardened”), perfect passive participle of obdūrō (“to harden”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ob- (“against”) + dūrō (“to harden, render hard”), from dūrus (“hard”). Compare durable, endure.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Latin obdūrātus, see Etymology 1 and -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more