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
-
Outside of Washington, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s followers appear to be scrambling the country's stubborn red-blue divide USA TODAY Texas is looking at bills to bring back exercise.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
Those stubborn dark spots that once felt like permanent guests on my face are finally starting to fade, and my complexion looks brighter and more even-toned.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Yet even as Bix seems to be an avatar for all the suffering and trauma the Star Wars galaxy has to offer, Arjona is adamant that her character is not a victim.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
-
The league is adamant that the managers and front-office execs were informed, that front offices were updated on the specifics of the umpires’ labor agreement in writing and that there was no intent to keep anyone in the dark.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Some bird species can be very precise, but do not necessarily maintain that persistence over time.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
1 May 2025
-
The key lies in a fast oscillating sheet known as a diffuser, onto which synchronous images are projected at high speed (2,880 images per second) and at different heights; human persistence of vision ensures that these images are perceived as true 3D objects.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 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
-
These measures demonstrate the administration's resolve to continue economic and political pressure while seeking to limit Iran's military capabilities.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Ana is a force to be reckoned with, but the same youthful resolve that makes her charge forward lends itself to her most frustrating moments.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This week’s crop of new music finds Luke Combs and Bailey Zimmerman pairing up on a hard-charging anthem about grit and determination.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
Choose from the Legends Tee, which honors Black pioneers of skateboarding with six black-and-white, high-contrast action shots, or the Wheels Tee, an homage to skateboarders’ determination and grit.—
Alia Yee Noll,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
But on the contrary, these four have been among the most supportive of PURA’s intransigence.—
Brian Harrell,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Given deepening American intransigence and increasing demand from Ukraine, would Turkey put the SAGE 227 into production on Ukraine’s behalf?—
David Axe,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Yet, over time, Bashar Assad inherited his father’s obstinacy and brutality and increasingly relied on the security apparatus to maintain control, stifling dissent and curbing opposition.—
Sefa Secen / Made by History,
TIME,
17 Dec. 2024
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That is the popular girl’s cross to bear, and the desperate obstinacy that comes with this realization is one of Cody’s main themes.—
Rafaela Bassili,
The Atlantic,
18 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Mulish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mulish. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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