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
-
The fizzing reaction can help remove stubborn residues.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
-
Beneath its surface were deep, dark scars—grooves cut through the rock by old lava flows, now overgrown with stubborn green.—
Tess Moormans,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
Adjective
-
Since camp got underway, he's been adamant that winning games is far more important than his personal stats.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
Liverpool communicated an interest in acquiring the Sweden international for around £120m, though Newcastle have been adamant for months that Isak is not for sale.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Today, those same companies pay Espinoza five-figure speaking fees to train and inspire their senior leaders — proof that persistence, when paired with purpose, creates its own path.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
-
For disillusioned progressives feeling powerless to stop President Trump’s initiatives, La Follette’s career exemplifies the value of rejecting the siren song of frustration and complacency in favor of persistence in pursuing progressive ideals.—
Time,
Time,
16 July 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
-
The political scientist Robert Powell’s game theory model of conventional war and nuclear escalation, for example, has shown that the possibility of conventional war between nuclear powers depends on the level of risk and the balance of resolve.—
Carter Malkasian,
Foreign Affairs,
17 July 2025
-
The idea is that Ukrainian resolve to keep fighting will be worn down, that political will in Europe will wane, and that the country will eventually capitulate.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Behind his determination is a fear of failure that weighs on his confidence.—
Brett Burlone,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 July 2025
-
There was something exhilarating about trekking next to people who knew nothing of my diagnosis, only my determination.—
Tess Moormans,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
Noun
-
Trump has appeared in recent months increasingly frustrated by Russia's intransigence, plus by its nightly drone and missile strikes across Ukraine.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
22 July 2025
-
Given Putin’s intransigence, the U.S.-led peace process the Trump administration has attempted to spark hasn’t achieved anything other than several rounds of prisoner releases between Russia and Ukraine.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
15 July 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
Cite this Entry
“Mulish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mulish. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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