Obstinate
/ˈɑːbstɪnət/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Obstinate means stubborn or refusing to change your mind or behavior. It describes someone who keeps doing or believing something even if others try to persuade them or if it causes problems. It can also describe situations or things that are hard to change or deal with.
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See It in Action
Describing a person who refuses to change their mind or behavior
- •She was obstinate and would not admit she was wrong.
- •The child was obstinate and refused to eat his vegetables.
- •He remained obstinate despite all the advice from his friends.
Describing something difficult to change or deal with
- •The stain on the shirt was obstinate and would not come out.
- •The problem was obstinate and needed a lot of effort to solve.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "obstinate" like "stubborn" (A2 word), but stronger and more fixed—like a wall that does not move at all
- ✓Picture a mule or a child who refuses to move no matter what you say or do
- ✓It’s the feeling when someone will not listen or give up, even if it makes things harder for them or others
- ✓Sounds like "OB-stin-ate" → imagine someone saying "Oh, be STINky and NOT change!" to remember someone who won’t change
- ✓Think of the story of the "obstinate donkey" that stands still even when it should move
- ✓NOT like "flexible" (easy to change), obstinate means very hard or impossible to change
- ✓NOT like "persistent" (which is positive and means trying hard), obstinate often means refusing to listen or be reasonable
- ✓NOT like "easygoing" (calm and relaxed), obstinate is firm and unyielding
Try Other Words
- •Stubborn: refusing to change (Use when speaking simply about someone who won’t change their mind)
- •Unyielding: not giving in (Use when emphasizing strength and firmness)
- •Persistent: continuing firmly (Use when the behavior is positive or neutral)
- •Headstrong: very determined and not willing to listen (Use when someone is stubborn in a strong or wild way)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ob-" (against) + "stin-" (from Latin "stare" meaning to stand) + "-ate" (adjective suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin "obstinatus," past participle of "obstinare," meaning to stand firm or persist
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1500s to describe someone firmly refusing to change
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe people or things that are very difficult to change or persuade
Reflect & Connect
•Can being obstinate ever be helpful or a good quality? When might that happen?
•How do you feel when someone you know is obstinate? Does it make communication easier or harder?
Fill in the blanks
1.She was obstinate and ___ to listen to any advice or ___ her opinion.
2.The stain was so obstinate that no cleaning product could ___ it ___.
3.Unlike flexible people, obstinate individuals find it very hard to ___ their mind.
4.When he was obstinate, his friends often felt ___ because he would not ___.
5.Obstinate behavior can sometimes ___ problems instead of solving them.
6.The child’s obstinate refusal to ___ made the situation more difficult.
7.Even when the facts were clear, she remained obstinate and ___ to change her beliefs.