obstinate synonyms

obstinate

modif.

stubborn, firm, headstrong, dogged, pertinacious, opinionated, strong-minded, contumacious, opinionative, contradictory, inflexible, positive, perverse, contrary, cantankerous, unimpressible, determined, convinced, resolved, indomitable, adamant, intractable, crotchety, obdurate, self-willed, refractory, unamenable, unalterable, unconquerable, restive, unflinching, unyielding, unbending, immovable, tenacious, decided, heady, unmanageable, bull-headed, mulish, pigheaded, plucky, sulky, case-hardened, fixed, stiff-necked, callous, hard, hardened, relentless, recalcitrant, unrelenting, resistant, repulsive, willful, unwavering, prejudiced, biased, bigoted, dogmatic, unreasonable, unreasoning, hellbent*, die-hard*, set in one's ways*; see also resolute 2.

Antonyms docile*, submissive*, amenable.

obstinate applies to one who adheres persistently, and often unreasonably, to a purpose, course, etc., against argument or persuasion a panel hung by an obstinate juror; stubborn implies a strong, even innate, resistance to change or manipulation of purpose, course, condition, etc. a stubborn child, a stubborn belief in astrology; dogged implies thoroughgoing determination or, sometimes, sullen obstinacy the dogged pursuit of a goal; pertinacious implies a strong tenacity of purpose that is regarded unfavorably by others a pertinacious critic

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.