Obstinate

//ˈɑb.stə.nət// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent.

    "From this consideration it is that we have derived the custom, in times of war, to punish […] those who are obstinate to defend a place that by the rules of war is not tenable […]"

  2. 2
    Not easily subdued or removed.

    "1925-29, Mahadev Desai (translator), M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Part IV, Chapter XXIX, Now it happened that Kasturbai […] had again begun getting haemorrhage, and the malady seemed to be obstinate."

  3. 3
    Typical of an obstinate person; fixed and unmoving.

    "He had the same pile of curly hair, but he was clean-shaven with a heavy, obstinate jowl."

Adjective
  1. 1
    resistant to guidance or discipline wordnet
  2. 2
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing wordnet
  3. 3
    tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    persist stubbornly wordnet

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English obstinat(e) (“obstinate, stubborn”), from Latin obstinātus, perfect passive participle of obstinō (“set one's mind firmly upon, resolve”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ob (“before”) + *stinare, from stare (“to stand”). Doublet of ostinato.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: obstinate