# obstinate

/ˈɑbstənət/ (US) · /ˈɒbstɪnˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/obstinate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. stubborn person

adjective · CEFR B2

refusing to change your mind or your ideas, even when you are wrong.

For teachers: stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course of action, often despite reason or persuasion.

- He was too obstinate to admit that he had taken the wrong road.
- The negotiator faced an obstinate opponent who refused to make even the slightest concession regarding the new contract terms.

### 2. difficult to remove

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

used to describe a problem or a physical thing that is very hard to fix or get rid of.

For teachers: describing inanimate objects or conditions that are resistant to treatment, removal, or control.

- The cleaner struggled to remove the obstinate stain from the white carpet.
- The patient suffered from an obstinate infection that failed to respond to several different courses of standard antibiotics.

### 3. fixed expression

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

describing a face or look that shows someone is determined not to change their mind.

For teachers: referring to a facial feature or expression that is fixed, unmoving, and indicative of a stubborn nature.

- She stared at him with an obstinate look, her jaw set tight.
- There was an obstinate set to his chin that warned his colleagues he would not be easily swayed by their emotional appeals.

## Examples

- He was too obstinate to admit that he was wrong.
- The obstinate manager refused to sign the new safety protocol, despite the clear evidence of its necessity.
- While his initial resistance was understandable, his obstinate refusal to consider alternative viewpoints eventually alienated his closest colleagues and stalled the entire project.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.