obstinacy

noun

ob·​sti·​na·​cy ˈäb-stə-nə-sē 

plural obstinacies

1

a

: the quality or state of being obstinate : stubbornness

She held to her own opinion with great obstinacy.

b

: the quality or state of being difficult to remedy, relieve, or subdue

the obstinacy of tuberculosis

2

: an instance of being obstinate

irritated by the senator's obstinacies

Synonyms

• stubbornness
• persistence
• persistency
• intransigence
• obduracy
• pertinacity
• pigheadedness
• willfulness
• doggedness
• resolve
• bullheadedness
• self-will
• determination

Examples of obstinacy in a Sentence

the mindless obstinacy of those people who continue to insist that the earth is flat

Recent Examples on the Web

The collapse of 2023 was partly rooted in offensive obstinacy, stagnation and decline. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 23 July 2025

This seemed to me to stem not from carelessness or spite but obstinacy. —Erin Khuê Ninh june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025

Campbell’s thirst to learn protected him from obstinacy. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 May 2025

But as Nicky expands his interests and each man gains power, their lives become entangled in a story of hot temples, obstinacy, money, love and deception. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

obstinacy

noun

ob·​sti·​na·​cy ˈäb-stə-nə-sē 

: the quality or state of being obstinate

Medical Definition

obstinacy

noun

ob·​sti·​na·​cy ˈäb-stə-nə-sē 

plural obstinacies

: the quality or state of being obstinate

the obstinacy of tuberculosis