# stubborn

/ˈstəbɝn/ (US) · /stˈʌbən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stubborn
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. refusing to change

adjective · CEFR B1

refusing to change your mind or your behavior, even when people give you good reasons to do so.

For teachers: unreasonably or perversely unyielding; refusing to change one's opinion or course of action despite persuasion.

- He was too stubborn to admit that he had taken the wrong road.
- The negotiator remained stubborn throughout the afternoon, refusing to concede even the most minor points of the contract.

### 2. difficult to move or fix

adjective · CEFR B2

difficult to move, remove, or deal with.

For teachers: difficult to handle, manage, or treat; resistant to physical force or chemical action.

- I used a special soap to get the stubborn grass stains out of my jeans.
- The mechanic spent hours wrestling with a stubborn bolt that had rusted into place over several decades.

### 3. stiff or inflexible

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a material that is stiff and does not bend or melt easily.

For teachers: physically stiff and inflexible; specifically used in technical contexts for materials that are difficult to work or melt.

- The old leather had become stubborn and hard to sew after years in the sun.
- Certain stubborn ores require significantly higher temperatures before they begin the smelting process.

## Examples

- He is too stubborn to admit he is wrong.
- The stubborn child refused to eat his vegetables despite his parents promising him dessert afterward.
- The negotiations stalled because both parties remained stubborn regarding the final price, refusing to make even the slightest concession to reach a middle ground.

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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.