Stubbornly
/ˈstʌbərnli/
adverbB2adverb form
Definition
Stubbornly describes how someone acts when they do not want to change their opinion, decision, or behavior. It shows a firm, strong will not to listen or accept new ideas, even if it might be better to do so. This word often has a negative feeling because it can mean being difficult or not open to help.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Acting with strong refusal to change
- •She stubbornly refused to admit she was wrong.
- •He stubbornly kept trying his own method despite the advice.
- •They stubbornly ignored the warnings and went ahead.
Doing something with strong will and determination (sometimes positive)
- •The team stubbornly fought until the last minute.
- •She stubbornly worked on the project, even when it was hard.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "stubbornly" like "hard" (A1 word), but about how a person acts inside their mind—they hold their ideas hard and don’t let go.
- ✓Picture a child who refuses to eat vegetables even when asked nicely many times.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you really want to do something your way, no matter what others say.
- ✓Sounds like "stubborn-ly" → imagine a "stubborn" mule that won’t move, plus "-ly" means how it is done.
- ✓Remember the story of the donkey that would not move no matter how much it was pushed—this is stubborn behavior.
- ✓NOT like "easily" (quick to change), stubbornly means the opposite: very slow or no change.
- ✓NOT like "flexible" (open to new ideas); stubbornly means very fixed or firm.
- ✓NOT like "carelessly" (without care), stubbornly means with strong care about keeping your own way.
Try Other Words
- •Persistently: doing something again and again without stopping (Use when focus is on continuing effort, less on refusal to change)
- •Obstinately: refusing to change, similar to stubbornly but more formal (Use in formal writing)
- •Firmly: doing something with strong decision or confidence (Use when the focus is on strong belief, not just refusal)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "stubborn" (not willing to change) + suffix "-ly" (makes an adverb showing how something is done)
- •Etymology: "stubborn" comes from Old English "stibbor," meaning stiff or obstinate; "-ly" is a common English suffix for adverbs
- •Historical development: "Stubborn" has been used since the 1300s to describe people who are difficult to change; "stubbornly" formed later to describe the manner of acting
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe people’s behavior or attitudes when they do not change easily, often seen as negative but sometimes showing strong will
Reflect & Connect
•Can being stubbornly determined be good sometimes? When might that happen?
•How do you feel when someone stubbornly refuses to listen to your ideas?
Fill in the blanks
1.She stubbornly ___ to her opinion even when everyone else disagreed.
2.Acting stubbornly can ___ problems if you do not listen to advice.
3.Unlike changing your mind, stubbornly means you ___ to your own way.
4.He stubbornly ___ working on the task, showing strong will.
5.People often say "don’t be stubbornly ___" when they want you to be more flexible.
6.When someone stubbornly ___, it can make teamwork difficult.
7.Stubbornly is often used with verbs like "refuse," "keep," or "insist" because it shows ___ behavior.