adamant

1 of 2

adjective

ad·​a·​mant ˈa-də-mənt How to pronounce adamant (audio)
-ˌmant
: unshakable or insistent especially in maintaining a position or opinion : unyielding
an adamant insistence on doing things his own way
was adamant about making the change

adamant

2 of 2

noun

1
: a stone (such as a diamond) formerly believed to be of impenetrable hardness
2
: an unbreakable or extremely hard substance
"Trust not in your gold and silver, trust not in your high fortresses; for, though the walls were of iron, and the fortresses of adamant, the Most High shall put terror into your hearts and weakness into your councils …"George Eliot

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The Meaning and History of Adamant

A person who is adamant about something has formed an opinion or taken a position that is not going to change because the person is determined to keep that opinion or position. If you're adamant about a decision you've made, no one can convince you that it was a mistake. If you're adamant that something be done (or not be done), you insist that it be (or not be) so.

The adjective dates to the early 1800s but it comes from a much older—and now much less common—noun. An adamant is an imaginary stone of impenetrable hardness. Historically, the word applied to actual stones (and other substances) believed to be impenetrable; in the 17th century the word was used as a synonym of diamond. The noun adamant comes from a Latin word meaning "material of extreme hardness, diamond."

One side note: however adamant the Adams in your life tend to be, the name Adam is not related etymologically to the word adamant. Adam comes from the Hebrew word 'āḏām, meaning "human being."

Choose the Right Synonym for adamant

inflexible, obdurate, adamant mean unwilling to alter a predetermined course or purpose.

inflexible implies rigid adherence or even servile conformity to principle.

inflexible in their demands

obdurate stresses hardness of heart and insensitivity to appeals for mercy or the influence of divine grace.

obdurate in his refusal to grant clemency

adamant implies utter immovability in the face of all temptation or entreaty.

adamant that the work should continue

Examples of adamant in a Sentence

Adjective I am keen not to share my genetic code with my insurer, I am keen that my doctor should know it and use it, but I am adamant to the point of fanaticism that it is my decision. Matt Ridley, Genome, 1999
Arrive to find child physically intact but … adamant that he will not remain another minute in Ski Bunny program. Despite their 'professionalism,' staff members eagerly concur. Christopher Buckley, New Yorker, 10 Mar. 1997
In the years following the First World War, the debts of our wartime allies and others came to be considered a serious burden on international commerce and well-being. Calvin Coolidge was adamant on repayment. John Kenneth Galbraith, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 1986
We've tried to talk him into coming with us, but he's adamant about staying here. remained adamant about getting the actor's autograph even after he had disappeared backstage
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Progressive for his day, William was adamant that his daughters receive a full education, which was not typical for women at the time. Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 Never content to rest on his meaty laurels, Othman is adamant that Pincho will always compete with a brand new item. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 Taher al-Nunu, a spokesman for Hamas’s political wing, said the group was adamant that any truce must include a long-term end to Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Integrity of the game was a hot topic now that the Super Bowl is being held in the nation’s gambling capital, a decade after Goodell was adamant that legalized sports betting could lead to suspicions of games being fixed. Rob Maaddi, The Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2024 Karamo and her allies have been adamant that her removal and Hoekstra's election were invalid and that the RNC has no authority to decide otherwise. Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 18 Feb. 2024 In speech after speech leading up to the vote, Mr. McConnell was adamant that the United States had no choice but to keep supplying Ukraine to hold off Russian invasion, with his appeals increasingly aimed at naysayers as the debate in the Senate intensified. Carl Hulse, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Israel Defense Forces/Reuters But Israeli officials, at least outwardly, are adamant that the launch of a large-scale operation is only a matter of time, and inevitable. Neri Zilber, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2024 But Republican members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation, who have overwhelmingly backed Trump, are adamant that Haley has no shot of winning their state’s primary later this month. Audrey Fahlberg, National Review, 7 Feb. 2024
Noun
But Ballard’s adamant that there is no way to know how things will shake out once the draft begins. The Indianapolis Star, 23 Apr. 2023 The fifth-year option decision comes amid swirling rumors and even reports of the Dolphins exploring outside options at quarterback, despite Grier and McDaniel remaining adamant in their belief in Tagovailoa. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2023 The board is responding to an electorate adamant that the city and county band together to help the thousands of people living outside. Rebecca Ellisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adamant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

derivative of adamant entry 2

Noun

Middle English, "diamond, material of extreme hardness, lodestone," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin adamant-, adamās "material of extreme hardness, diamond," borrowed from Greek adamant-, adámas, probably a borrowing from a substratal or Near Eastern source, conformed by folk etymology to a- a- entry 2 and the stem of the verb dámnēmi "(I) tame, subdue, conquer"

First Known Use

Adjective

1816, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of adamant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near adamant

Cite this Entry

“Adamant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adamant. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

adamant

1 of 2 noun
ad·​a·​mant ˈad-ə-mənt How to pronounce adamant (audio)
-ˌmant
1
: an imaginary stone of great hardness
2
: an unbreakable or extremely hard substance

adamant

2 of 2 adjective
: firmly fixed or decided especially against something : unyielding
adamantly adverb
Etymology

Noun

Middle English adamant "an imaginary stone of great hardness, diamond," from early French adamant (same meaning), from Latin adamant-, adamas "hardest metal, diamond," from Greek adamant-, adamas (same meaning) — related to diamond see Word History at diamond

More from Merriam-Webster on adamant

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