as in obstinate
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
he's just being stubborn, refusing even to try the new toothpaste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
stubborn resistance
staunch resistance
determined resistance
hardheaded resistance
tenacious resistance
unyielding resistance
a stubborn streak
a defiant streak
a determined streak
a tenacious streak
an uncompromising streak
a rebellious streak
a stubborn child
stubborn stains
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of stubborn
Jesse Pound, CNBC, 18 June 2025
At times, perhaps those managers were stubborn to not give Campusano more of a chance as a big-league catcher.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Gibson admits that Hercules was difficult to train at first, being a little stubborn and overly friendly to people.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Then Curry, rattled by the monumental reverb of Kyrie’s shot, hurried into a stubborn approach on the ensuing possession, missed a desperate 3 over Kevin Love, who used his length and a rare display of defensive intensity to deny Curry a good look.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stubborn
Adjective
But Fed officials also lowered the outlook for economic growth and raised the inflation forecast, sparking concern from some experts about potential stagflation in the U.S. economy, when sluggish growth is accompanied by stubborn price increases.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 18 June 2025
At times, perhaps those managers were stubborn to not give Campusano more of a chance as a big-league catcher.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Gibson admits that Hercules was difficult to train at first, being a little stubborn and overly friendly to people.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Then Curry, rattled by the monumental reverb of Kyrie’s shot, hurried into a stubborn approach on the ensuing possession, missed a desperate 3 over Kevin Love, who used his length and a rare display of defensive intensity to deny Curry a good look.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stubborn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stubborn
Adjective
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All that being said, the controls can still feel frustratingly obstinate at times, and get in the way of the overall experience.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
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More: McConnell called Trump 'despicable' and a 'narcissist,' cried after Capitol riot, new book says Now out of GOP leadership, McConnell has emerged as the most obstinate member of a loose cohort of Republican senators willing to criticize the president’s policies and nominees.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
6 Jan. 2021
Noun
-
The theme is echoed in videos exploring contemporary Australian bark-cloth painting, and the persistence of masquerade traditions across Africa.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
Your experience illustrates the importance of persistence and following up.—
Christopher Elliott The Travel Troubleshooter,
Sun Sentinel,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
President Donald Trump has been adamant his tariffs will bring factory jobs back to American shores.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
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Among the holdouts are members of the SALT Caucus, who have been adamant that any deal from the Senate that does not match the one that passed the House is dead on arrival.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
This seemed to me to stem not from carelessness or spite but obstinacy.—
erin Khuê Ninh
June 17,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2025
-
Campbell’s thirst to learn protected him from obstinacy.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Flash mobs in the Loop are a real problem demanding hardheaded solutions.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2025
-
British officials know this and sometimes despair that their country has not found a way to be more hardheaded.—
Sam Knight,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 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
Adjective
-
Liza Colón-Zayas stars as Tina Marrero, a headstrong cook who has grown into a respected leader in the kitchen.—
Kelsey Lentz,
People.com,
25 June 2025
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Two headstrong Koreans can’t agree on who’s treating who to dinner, causing their casual restaurant outing to spiral into a martial arts deathmatch.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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But Rosary’s goals and its place in the community have remained steadfast, school leadership says.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
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Accessibility and Sustainability Environmental care is one of Bitter End’s most steadfast values.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stubborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stubborn. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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