as in persistence
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
bullheadedness runs in that family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bullheadedness
Noun
-
The theme is echoed in videos exploring contemporary Australian bark-cloth painting, and the persistence of masquerade traditions across Africa.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025 -
Your experience illustrates the importance of persistence and following up.—
Christopher Elliott The Travel Troubleshooter,
Sun Sentinel,
30 June 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 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
Noun
-
In fact, to close observers of the war, Putin’s intransigence and determination to take more territory at whatever the cost is not surprising.—
Lawrence D. Freedman,
Foreign Affairs,
18 June 2025
-
However, in recent days, the stalling nature of U.S. negotiations with Iran, and growing frustration on the part of President Donald Trump with Iranian intransigence, created an opening for Israeli action, and Netanyahu's government took it.—
Ilan Berman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
Perhaps the greatest testament to Morocco’s obduracy came late in normal time, when Rodri — a central midfielder being deployed as a central defender — strode forward and shot, more in hope than in expectation, from 35 yards.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
6 Dec. 2022
Noun
-
Naval presence operations are designed to shape the perceptions and behavior of potential adversaries, said Emma Salisbury, a researcher at the Council on Geostrategy in the U.K., by helping to deter aggression and demonstrate resolve without resorting to conflict.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
-
Any signs that Ukraine’s backers are losing their resolve will only encourage Moscow to stick to that course, a task made easier by the support of Russia’s allies, the absence of material internal dissent, and the low level of importance that the Kremlin attaches to its own soldiers’ deaths.—
The Editors,
National Review,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The network of community leaders and officials all questioned the administration’s determination that Haiti is now safe enough for people to return.—
Churchill Ndonwie,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
-
The increasingly obvious awfulness of Dave’s book gives Smollett some great reaction work amid all Michelle’s pained determination.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
But also injuries and ailments at all the wrong times, as well as overt self-will at times.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2025
-
So for those of us torn between watching the sun get blotted out and getting blotto keeping our attention on a particularly good rock show, this exercise in multi-tasking was a real contest of self-will.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Bullheadedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bullheadedness. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share