Word of the day · 27 June 2026
obstinate
/ˈɒbstɪnət/
adjective
Stubbornly refusing to change opinion or course; hard to move or control.
In a sentence
- An obstinate leak forced another ceiling repair.
- He remained obstinate about the original deadline.
- The committee met an obstinate refusal to share the files.
In an image
Origin
From Latin obstinatus (resolved, stubborn), past participle of obstinare (to persist), from ob- (against) and a root related to standing firm.
History
Obstinate has long described people who will not yield. It can apply to problems and conditions too: an obstinate stain, an obstinate fever. Praise is rare; the tone usually leans critical. Still, history keeps room for obstinate courage when the stand is justified.
Nearby words
stubborn · adamant · intractable
Holding fast, sometimes from principle and sometimes from habit.