1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
the obdurate refusal of the crotchety old man to let the neighborhood kids retrieve their stray ball from his backyard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
an obdurate farmer who could never be convinced to try a different method of fertilization
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obdurate
Over the next several hundred million years, terrestrial plants of all kinds profoundly altered the planet, accelerating the water cycle, turning obdurate crust into supple soil—and pushing the level of atmospheric oxygen to new heights.
—
Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024
To Matthew and Rachelle, who by now had become attuned to the obdurate implacability of British authorities, the coroner’s response was maddening: this was their final opportunity to ascertain the truth.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Regina Hall came down with pneumonia while shooting Girls Trip, the irreverent 2017 comedy from Will Packer, a savant who repeatedly has shown an obdurate Hollywood that Black movies can mint money at the box office.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2024
By the spring of 1945, with Germany defeated, the Allies turned to an obdurate Japan.
—Peter Englund, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for obdurate
Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024
To Matthew and Rachelle, who by now had become attuned to the obdurate implacability of British authorities, the coroner’s response was maddening: this was their final opportunity to ascertain the truth.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Regina Hall came down with pneumonia while shooting Girls Trip, the irreverent 2017 comedy from Will Packer, a savant who repeatedly has shown an obdurate Hollywood that Black movies can mint money at the box office.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2024
By the spring of 1945, with Germany defeated, the Allies turned to an obdurate Japan.
—Peter Englund, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for obdurate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obdurate
Adjective
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The film follows Bryan, a Korean American teenager who wants out of his ruthless gang the Goblins, setting the stage for gang retribution against him.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
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But Harrison’s anti-expansionist successor, Grover Cleveland, abhorred the ruthless U.S. meddling in Hawaiian affairs.—
Robert W. Merry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Like this Fire sign, Drizella is unapologetically stubborn and impatience, believing she is entitled to nothing but the best.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
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Another type of hyperpigmentation that kojic acid can help with is melasma—a stubborn and hard-to-treat skin condition characterized by splotchy, brown or grayish patches.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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By enumerating the many merciless changes in our government since January, the Rev. Michael Pleger is not making a political pitch.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
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Waltz lends a slimy charisma to the merciless SS colonel, who gets a satisfying comeuppance via carving knife. 4.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Warner was adamant that oppressors should be stopped not only using military force, but also with intellectual muscle and dialogue.—
Chris Yogerst / Made by History,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
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House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican who championed the law in 2022, has been adamant that mandatory financial reserves for building maintenance are essential in preventing another building from crumbling to the ground.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Sam Teicher, chief reef officer at Coral Vita, emphasized in an email interview that decades of degradation have wiped out at least 80% of the Bahamas' coral reefs, a crisis exacerbated by events like Hurricane Dorian and the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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There was some stony silence that seemed to annoy Trump.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Many in the department remain steadfast that Mercado should be disciplined — or at least removed from the prestigious investigative unit.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2025
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The key is to recognize that while retirement planning has evolved with technology, certain fundamental principles remain steadfast.—
Wayne Anderman,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obdurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obdurate. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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