as in persistence
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
between my brother's stubbornness and my own, it's amazing when we come to an agreement about anything
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Recent Examples of stubbornness
Still, tension rises when your need for reassurance clashes with pride or stubbornness.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Letter writer worries mom’s stubbornness will limit visits just as parents are aging.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
As for her training, the stubbornness of this dog mix hasn't been an issue.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Maybe this stubbornness won’t affect anything.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The 22-year-old had been relentless in her pursuit of a goal all match against rival Canada, and her stubbornness finally paid off in the 55th minute.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In season one, Robby’s vulnerabilities were made evident through his trauma over the loss of his mentor during COVID; in the show’s next chapter, his vulnerabilities are shown through his stubbornness.
—Esther Zuckerman, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Given the stubbornness of beef prices, some investors may have feared inflation was running even hotter.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Like, does stubbornness at all play a role in, interpersonal relationships?
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Letter writer worries mom’s stubbornness will limit visits just as parents are aging.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
As for her training, the stubbornness of this dog mix hasn't been an issue.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Maybe this stubbornness won’t affect anything.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
The 22-year-old had been relentless in her pursuit of a goal all match against rival Canada, and her stubbornness finally paid off in the 55th minute.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In season one, Robby’s vulnerabilities were made evident through his trauma over the loss of his mentor during COVID; in the show’s next chapter, his vulnerabilities are shown through his stubbornness.
—Esther Zuckerman, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Given the stubbornness of beef prices, some investors may have feared inflation was running even hotter.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Like, does stubbornness at all play a role in, interpersonal relationships?
—Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stubbornness
Noun
-
The thesis, as Zidni frames it, is that Indonesian cinema’s next phase cannot rely on individual producers’ persistence.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
That sustained workplace exposure and relationship based learning environments strengthen college persistence and long term economic mobility outcomes.—
Kelby Woodard,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Starmer’s realism—or obstinacy, depending on your point of view—had seen off an immediate challenge.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
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 tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
2 May 2023
Noun
-
Instead, the courts are dealing with intransigence from the city.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
-
In Kyiv, Orbán’s intransigence had scuttled various European initiatives to aid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government in the country’s with Russia.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
China has gained, not suffered, from this obduracy.—
JONATHAN A. CZIN,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Nov. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Centres come at a significant premium cost, and there’s a fair bit of regard for Hayton around the industry given his versatility, face-off winning ability, power-play utility and doggedness.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Corey Perry, winger, A- Joel Armia, forward, B Perry has delivered the doggedness the Kings came to expect from him as a longtime rival, along with his best per-game scoring rate since 2018.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This year’s results—which show most respondents prioritizing gradual growth, continuous learning and well-being over fast career progression—once again point to the resolve and adaptability of these generations.—
Emma Codd,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
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And the story itself also neatly resolves, with the forces of good triumphing over the forces of evil.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stubbornness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stubbornness. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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