as in obdurateness
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action
cursed their mulishness for failing to own up to what seemed like an obvious mistake to him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mulishness
Noun
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Both represent persistence, innovation, and trusting our instincts.—
Perrie Samotin,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026 -
Over time, the collection expanded—through donations, acquisitions, and O’Connor’s persistence.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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The downside is gas cooktops are harder to clean and might affect household air quality negatively, although using a proper hood vent resolves that.—
Marni Jameson,
Arkansas Online,
10 Apr. 2026
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But entering the war enabled a weakened Houthi movement to signal resolve, military capacity and commitment to its alliance with Iran, just as Yemen continues to face an economic and severe humanitarian crisis.—
Ioana Emy Matesan,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Platforms would be barred from using information collected and stored in the age assurance system, or in appeals, for anything but age assurance, and would have to delete the information within 10 days of an age determination or appeal resolution, per the bill text.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
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My determination to make sure Greg got his shut-eye had turned me into a less-than-ideal version of myself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Letter writer worries mom’s stubbornness will limit visits just as parents are aging.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
3 Apr. 2026
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As for her training, the stubbornness of this dog mix hasn't been an issue.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That the campaign has become a grind, with little entertainment on offer and an intransigence in the manager’s approach, has added to the sense of angst.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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Tehran matched American and Israeli rigidity with intransigence and strategic overreach of its own.—
Mehrzad Boroujerdi,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Mulishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mulishness. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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