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
These issues aren’t about stubbornness—they’re about confusion and fear of losing control.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2025
The contrast between these quick results and the stubbornness of the Nopert holdouts made some mathematicians suspect that true Noperts do exist.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
There are many stories about artists whose stubbornness prevented them from changing with the times.
—Michael Cuby, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
Somehow, through therapy and counseling, sheer grit and stubbornness, Giuffre found a way to build a life.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Baseball’s stubbornness and insistence on staggering all of its postseason games left a terrific pitcher’s duel between two of the game’s young stars to start shortly after lunch on the East Coast and just a bit after breakfast on the West Coast.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
So, why does intellectual stubbornness so often carry the day?
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
For all his individual stubbornness and spite, Milošević could not match the resilience and determination of Serbia’s citizens.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
But the Steelers, for whatever reason, insisted on rushing, and their stubbornness fed into four scoreless drives in the second half.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2025
The contrast between these quick results and the stubbornness of the Nopert holdouts made some mathematicians suspect that true Noperts do exist.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
There are many stories about artists whose stubbornness prevented them from changing with the times.
—Michael Cuby, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
Somehow, through therapy and counseling, sheer grit and stubbornness, Giuffre found a way to build a life.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Baseball’s stubbornness and insistence on staggering all of its postseason games left a terrific pitcher’s duel between two of the game’s young stars to start shortly after lunch on the East Coast and just a bit after breakfast on the West Coast.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
So, why does intellectual stubbornness so often carry the day?
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
For all his individual stubbornness and spite, Milošević could not match the resilience and determination of Serbia’s citizens.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
But the Steelers, for whatever reason, insisted on rushing, and their stubbornness fed into four scoreless drives in the second half.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stubbornness
Noun
-
His story is one of persistence, leadership and a lasting commitment to helping others.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The photo captures a moment when frozen lagoons, sea ice, and shoreline all coexist in mid-June, a useful context for understanding seasonal ice persistence in a region where timing affects ecosystems, coastal erosion and human activity.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The White House does not seem to have a workaround to Putin’s obstinacy, and Rubio told Hannity that all other parties seeking to end the conflict are hopeless.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Dec. 2025
-
The gaps between Kyiv and Moscow remain too explicit, and their reasons for obstinacy too drenched in sacrifice, anxiety and blood.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
28 Nov. 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 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
-
But this outcome is more the product of Putin’s intransigence than European diplomacy.—
Matthias Matthijs,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Dec. 2025
-
John Hardie, the deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Russia Program, told Fox News Digital Moscow's intransigence over the past 10 months has been the main obstacle to Trump’s diplomatic efforts.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
25 Nov. 2025
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
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The orphan’s predicament is as much a matter of willfulness as of survival—inseparable, as in the works of Charles Dickens, from a dream of being somehow rescued by the idea of an adult world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
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While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yet even Smith’s dismissal doesn’t lead to the quick finale most are expecting, with Brydon Carse and Will Jacks showing the doggedness and determination that England have lacked so often in the series.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
21 Dec. 2025
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Netflix's latest crime drama is resonant and relentless, offering audiences a sweaty, anxious look at doggedness and sacrifice in the face of a cruel, indifferent economy.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If anything, Lane Kiffin’s decision to bolt for LSU seemed to harden Ole Miss’ resolve, pushing the Rebels to the best season in school history — and within a game of their first national championship game.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
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If anything, Lane Kiffin’s decision to bolt for LSU seemed to harden Mississippi’s resolve, pushing the Rebels to the best season in school history — and within a game of their first national championship game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stubbornness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stubbornness. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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