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."
Synonyms
Adjective
- adamantine
- bullheaded
- dogged
- hard
- hard-nosed
- hardened
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- immovable
- implacable
- inconvincible
- inflexible
- intransigent
- mulish
- obdurate
- obstinate
- opinionated
- ossified
- pat
- pertinacious
- perverse
- pigheaded
- self-opinionated
- self-willed
- stiff-necked
- stubborn
- unbending
- uncompromising
- unrelenting
- unyielding
- willful
- wilful
Examples of adamant in a Sentence
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
Isaac Stanley-Becker, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Sep. 2023
The Cowboys coach is adamant that success in the NFL depends on them.
—David Moore, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
Cowell was adamant that AGT addicts haven’t seen the last of the crooner.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 14 Sep. 2023
McCarthy orders impeachment inquiry into Biden amid pressure from hard-liners
The White House is adamant that the president did nothing wrong, and that there is no evidence to suggest otherwise after an investigation into any relationship between him and Hunter Biden's business dealings.
—Mariam Khan, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023
She's also been adamant about giving her sons as normal of a life as possible.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023
And, contrary to some of his most adamant critics, Musk really does seem to possess a remarkable brain for physics, engineering and business — if perhaps not for running a social media firm.
—Will Oremus, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2023
Kerr is adamant her group won’t skip a beat amidst the transition behind strong senior leadership.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2023
There were serious risks if Schwarzenegger’s health languished: His doctors were particularly adamant about him exercising his lungs because of the risk posed by a potential pneumonia infection.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2023
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
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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
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"
Adjective
1816, in the meaning defined above
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near adamant
Cite this Entry
“Adamant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adamant. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
adamant
1 of 2 noun
adamant
2 of 2 adjective
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