obdurate

ob·du·rate

adjective \ˈäb-də-rət, -dyə-; äb-ˈdu̇r-ət, əb-, -ˈdyu̇r-\

Definition of OBDURATE

1

a : stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing

b : hardened in feelings

2

: resistant to persuasion or softening influences

— ob·du·rate·ly adverb

— ob·du·rate·ness noun

Examples of OBDURATE

1. He is known for his obdurate determination.
2. <the obdurate refusal of the crotchety old man to let the neighborhood kids retrieve their stray ball from his backyard>

Origin of OBDURATE

Middle English, from Latin obduratus, past participle of obdurare to harden, from ob- against + durus hard — more at during

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to OBDURATE

Synonyms

affectless, callous, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard-boiled, hard-hearted, heartless, indurate, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, insensitive, ironhearted, merciless, hard, pachydermatous, pitiless, remorseless, ruthless, slash-and-burn, soulless, stony (also stoney), stonyhearted, take-no-prisoners, thick-skinned, uncharitable, unfeeling, unmerciful, unsparing, unsympathetic

Antonyms

charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted

Related Words

boorish, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, unfriendly, unloving, unthinking; grim, hard-bitten, harsh, heavy-handed, ironfisted, ironhanded, jackbooted, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), oppressive, rough, rough-and-tumble, severe, sledgehammer, stern, tough, ungentle; abusive, acrimonious, disagreeable, hateful, ill-natured, ill-tempered, malevolent, malicious, mean, rancorous, spiteful, surly, virulent; barbarous, bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, evil-minded, savage, vicious; austere, cold, frosty

Near Antonyms

benevolent, benignant, gentle, kind; clement, indulgent, lenient, mild; cordial, friendly, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious; tolerant, understanding; affectionate, fond, loving

See Synonym Discussion at inflexible

Rhymes with OBDURATE

indurate