obstinacy Hear it!

obstinacy Definition

ob·sti·nacy (äb′stə nə sē)

noun

  1. the state or quality of being obstinate; specif.,
    1. stubbornness
    2. resistance to treatment; persistence, as of a disease
  2. pl. -·cies an obstinate act, attitude, etc.

Etymology: ME obstinacie < ML obstinatia, for L obstinatio

obstinacy Synonyms

obstinacy

n.

stubbornness, tenacity, reluctance; see determination 2, purpose 1.

obstinacy Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • such: Oxfam warned that such obstinacy from the EU and the resultant standoff between major trading powers would ultimately harm developing countries.
  • great: I urged him to throw away his mystics; but he adhered to them with the greater obstinacy.
  • sheer: Of course, Bloom can also accomplish his goal by sheer obstinacy.
  • own: The defendants cannot rely on their own obstinacy to assert that mediation had no reasonable prospect of success.
  • mulish: The Fall had a mulish obstinacy, the bass-heavy clutter and intricate guitar designs backed up by drums which stomp and bray viciously.
  • pig-headed: In one of the best examples I can recall of Brian's pig-headed obstinacy, he would not get off.