as in stubbornness
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
the mindless obstinacy of those people who continue to insist that the earth is flat
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obstinacy
People talk a lot about artificial intelligence but not enough about artificial obstinacy.
—
David Brooks, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
In 2015, their nuclear perseverance and obstinacy even compelled Barack Obama to sign an agreement accepting Iran’s status as a nuclear-threshold state, i.e., a state that can assemble a weapon in short order.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Christie has been an immovable object, resisting all entreaties with characteristic obstinacy and swearing to remain in the race until New Hampshire.
—Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2023
This repetitiveness, this obstinacy, is a distinctive feature of Ellroy’s writing.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for obstinacy
David Brooks, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
In 2015, their nuclear perseverance and obstinacy even compelled Barack Obama to sign an agreement accepting Iran’s status as a nuclear-threshold state, i.e., a state that can assemble a weapon in short order.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Christie has been an immovable object, resisting all entreaties with characteristic obstinacy and swearing to remain in the race until New Hampshire.
—Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2023
This repetitiveness, this obstinacy, is a distinctive feature of Ellroy’s writing.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for obstinacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstinacy
Noun
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OpenAI recommends including three key reminders in all agent prompts: persistence (keeping going until resolution), tool-calling (using available tools rather than guessing), and planning (thinking before acting).—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Zaragoza’s persistence, and Martinez’s gamble to uproot his family, were massively rewarded in the years that followed.—
Joshua Korber Hoffman,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
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 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
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But on the contrary, these four have been among the most supportive of PURA’s intransigence.—
Brian Harrell,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2025
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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
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Related: ‘Neglected diseases’ are anything but neglected by the billion-plus people living with them One possible reason for this obduracy is that noma begins as a dental disease, and dental diseases have long been underappreciated global health concerns.—
John Button,
STAT,
16 Dec. 2023
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Perhaps the greatest testament to Morocco’s obduracy came late in normal time, when Rodri — a central midfielder being deployed as a central defender — strode forward and shot, more in hope than in expectation, from 35 yards.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
6 Dec. 2022
Noun
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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
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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
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But also injuries and ailments at all the wrong times, as well as overt self-will at times.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2025
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So for those of us torn between watching the sun get blotted out and getting blotto keeping our attention on a particularly good rock show, this exercise in multi-tasking was a real contest of self-will.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2024
Noun
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The song finds Wetmore shedding light on a childhood with a father battling against alcohol and pills, and Wetmore’s resulting desire and determination to forge a different path.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
22 Apr. 2025
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Sustainable workplace culture change requires both determination and adaptability.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obstinacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstinacy. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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