as in persistence
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
between my brother's stubbornness and my own, it's amazing when we come to an agreement about anything
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Recent Examples of stubbornness
Maybe this stubbornness won’t affect anything.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The 22-year-old had been relentless in her pursuit of a goal all match against rival Canada, and her stubbornness finally paid off in the 55th minute.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In season one, Robby’s vulnerabilities were made evident through his trauma over the loss of his mentor during COVID; in the show’s next chapter, his vulnerabilities are shown through his stubbornness.
—Esther Zuckerman, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Given the stubbornness of beef prices, some investors may have feared inflation was running even hotter.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Women in hijabs pushing strollers through snowbanks reminded me of the strength and stubbornness of the women who raised me.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Like, does stubbornness at all play a role in, interpersonal relationships?
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
Don't be surprised when that stubbornness ends up being one of their best character traits.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 17 Feb. 2026
What was your personal experience with his stubbornness?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The 22-year-old had been relentless in her pursuit of a goal all match against rival Canada, and her stubbornness finally paid off in the 55th minute.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In season one, Robby’s vulnerabilities were made evident through his trauma over the loss of his mentor during COVID; in the show’s next chapter, his vulnerabilities are shown through his stubbornness.
—Esther Zuckerman, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Given the stubbornness of beef prices, some investors may have feared inflation was running even hotter.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Women in hijabs pushing strollers through snowbanks reminded me of the strength and stubbornness of the women who raised me.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Like, does stubbornness at all play a role in, interpersonal relationships?
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
Don't be surprised when that stubbornness ends up being one of their best character traits.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 17 Feb. 2026
What was your personal experience with his stubbornness?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stubbornness
Noun
-
First, the persistence of ungoverned or contested spaces along the Pakistan-Afghan border risks creating an enabling environment for transnational militant groups.—
Rabia Akhtar,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
-
There’s something to be said for the persistence of these artists in grinding through and realizing such elaborate historical films in the face of enormous, unforeseen, catastrophic logistical challenges.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The White House does not seem to have a workaround to Putin’s obstinacy, and Rubio told Hannity that all other parties seeking to end the conflict are hopeless.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The Home Service Insurance segment experienced a decline in premiums, attributed to strategic actions to improve sales quality and persistency, as well as economic pressures such as inflation.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
2 May 2023
Noun
-
Tehran matched American and Israeli rigidity with intransigence and strategic overreach of its own.—
Mehrzad Boroujerdi,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Dunk’s intransigence can’t last, of course.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
China has gained, not suffered, from this obduracy.—
JONATHAN A. CZIN,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Nov. 2025
-
Related: ‘Neglected diseases’ are anything but neglected by the billion-plus people living with them One possible reason for this obduracy is that noma begins as a dental disease, and dental diseases have long been underappreciated global health concerns.—
John Button,
STAT,
16 Dec. 2023
Noun
-
Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The orphan’s predicament is as much a matter of willfulness as of survival—inseparable, as in the works of Charles Dickens, from a dream of being somehow rescued by the idea of an adult world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Centres come at a significant premium cost, and there’s a fair bit of regard for Hayton around the industry given his versatility, face-off winning ability, power-play utility and doggedness.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Corey Perry, winger, A- Joel Armia, forward, B Perry has delivered the doggedness the Kings came to expect from him as a longtime rival, along with his best per-game scoring rate since 2018.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One of the novel’s quietly devastating moments comes when Branwell, in the middle of one of his cycles of resolve, tells Emily he is done with laudanum and alcohol.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Following six years of vainly protesting his innocence, Dantès resolves to starve himself to death.—
Michael Dirda,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stubbornness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stubbornness. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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