ENGLISH
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obstinate

v.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɑbstənət// UK //ˈɒbstɪnˌeɪt// ob·sti·nate

v. unwilling to change your mind or give in, even when you are wrong. You use this to describe someone who is very stubborn and refuses to listen to others.

v. unwilling to comply with a request or to change one's opinion or course of action. Often carries a slightly negative or critical tone when describing a person's character.


SIMPLE

He was too obstinate to admit that he was wrong.

CONTEXTUAL

The obstinate manager refused to sign the new safety protocol, despite the clear evidence of its necessity.

COMPLEX

While his initial resistance was understandable, his obstinate refusal to consider alternative viewpoints eventually alienated his closest colleagues and stalled the entire project.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English obstinat(e) (“obstinate, stubborn”), from Latin obstinātus, perfect passive participle of obstinō (“set one's mind firmly upon, resolve”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ob (“before”) + *stinare, from stare (“to stand”). Doublet of ostinato.

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