as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a mulish determination to have his own way
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mulish
William Jeanes, Car and Driver, 28 Apr. 2023
But his insistence—which is so adamant as to be mulish—that order is a good thing (even if enforced by a tyrant) if the alternative is anarchy (even in pursuit of a liberal democracy) will find few takers among those who aren’t admirers of Agamemnon or worshipers of Zeus.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 13 Jan. 2023
Again, that is happening while the Biden administration makes U.S. energy production increasingly difficult, putting more upward pressure on prices in its mulish determination to appease the far Left.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 7 Feb. 2022
His daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), who comes to see him, is galled by the situation, but Anthony is mulish and unmoved.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2021
They are increasingly irritated by the Democrats’ mulish persistence in an anti-Trump impeachment gambit at the expense of dealing with pressing national problems.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 22 June 2019
And still fashion week keeps its mulish course, a carousel spinning madly.
—Matthew Schneier, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2018
Only a supranational institution such as the EU has the heft and mulish determination to override national attempts to impose banana uniformity, vacuum-cleaner-motor wattage limits or standards for automobile safety systems.
—Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2017
Although the Democrat who defeated him, Sheldon Whitehouse, is not considered unfriendly to the environment, Chafee's ouster has to please Sen. James Inhofe, the mulish Republican chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
—Wired News Report, WIRED, 8 Nov. 2006
Adjective
View Photos For those who have thus far been kept out of BMWs by an innate sense of fiscal responsibility (or a mulish loan officer), the biggest news here is the price: our 318is, as tested, cost a modest $21,985.
—William Jeanes, Car and Driver, 28 Apr. 2023
But his insistence—which is so adamant as to be mulish—that order is a good thing (even if enforced by a tyrant) if the alternative is anarchy (even in pursuit of a liberal democracy) will find few takers among those who aren’t admirers of Agamemnon or worshipers of Zeus.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 13 Jan. 2023
Again, that is happening while the Biden administration makes U.S. energy production increasingly difficult, putting more upward pressure on prices in its mulish determination to appease the far Left.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 7 Feb. 2022
His daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), who comes to see him, is galled by the situation, but Anthony is mulish and unmoved.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2021
They are increasingly irritated by the Democrats’ mulish persistence in an anti-Trump impeachment gambit at the expense of dealing with pressing national problems.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 22 June 2019
And still fashion week keeps its mulish course, a carousel spinning madly.
—Matthew Schneier, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2018
Only a supranational institution such as the EU has the heft and mulish determination to override national attempts to impose banana uniformity, vacuum-cleaner-motor wattage limits or standards for automobile safety systems.
—Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2017
Although the Democrat who defeated him, Sheldon Whitehouse, is not considered unfriendly to the environment, Chafee's ouster has to please Sen. James Inhofe, the mulish Republican chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
—Wired News Report, WIRED, 8 Nov. 2006
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mulish
Adjective
-
Still, the stubborn media silence continued unabated.—
Nate Rogers,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
-
United needed to play perfect football to unlock a stubborn defence, but struggled to push past competency.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Following Meghan's statements, Eldridge is adamant that her relatable role isn't convincing.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
-
In early previews and pre-release memos, the developers have been adamant that, despite targeting a more casual audience with some more forgiving elements, this is meant to be enjoyed by people who have spent hundreds of hours in the main game and its 2024 expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
By doing this, Els revealed the persistence of a parallel Afrikaner consciousness that remembers Apartheid not with shame, but with pride and nostalgia.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
-
Your commitment will require endurance, grace, and persistence.—
Liz Simmons,
StyleCaster,
27 May 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
-
His moral clarity and resolve helped dismantle communism’s grip across Eastern Europe, creating space for evangelism and spiritual renewal.—
Case Thorp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2025
-
In a post-AGI era, there is a notable task that AGI could substantially help humanity resolve.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
While an immigration judge in Louisiana has found Khalil deportable based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s determination, his lawyers separately brought the federal court case to ask Farbiaz to weigh in on the constitutional issues at play.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2025
-
And there is determination and Stovall has plenty of that.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
The Manhattan court countermanded the intransigence of the court stenographers and directed the daily publication of the Trump transcripts on a court website.—
Nick Akerman,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2025
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Three European diplomatic sources told Reuters Rubio's comments reflected growing frustration in the White House over Russian intransigence to end the war.—
Bart H. Meijer and Gabriel Stargardter,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Mulish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mulish. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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