Synonyms of unyielding

unyielding

adjective

ˌən-ˈyēl-diŋ 

1

as in relentless

showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose

the pioneers faced the challenge of settling the frontier with unyielding courage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relentless
• grim
• determined
• persistent
• unrelenting
• implacable
• unflinching
• ruthless
• dogged
• stubborn
• unappeasable
• willful
• tenacious
• hard
• merciless
• obdurate
• uncooperative
• intractable
• mulish
• unforgiving
• peevish
• pertinacious
• opinionated
• headstrong
• hardheaded
• persevering
• perverse
• pigheaded
• self-willed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softening
• yielding
• weak
• impotent
• slack
• spineless
• slackening
• invertebrate
• pliable
• pliant
• complaisant
• obliging

2

as in hard

having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure

knead the dough until it feels reasonably unyielding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hard
• stiff
• rigid
• solid
• thick
• compressed
• compact
• heavy
• dense
• firm
• stiffened
• hardened
• sturdy
• unbending
• compacted
• tempered
• inflexible
• indurated
• inelastic
• adamantine
• condensed
• case-hardened
• substantial
• close
• thickset
• impenetrable
• rocklike
• ramrod
• impermeable
• nonporous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soft
• thin
• spongy
• loose
• flabby
• flexible
• elastic
• malleable
• scattered
• pliable
• pliant
• supple
• squishy
• light
• floppy
• flaccid
• limp
• slack
• squashy
• porous
• droopy
• permeable
• airy
• lank
• bendable
• ultrasoft

3

as in rigid

incapable of or highly resistant to bending

an unyielding steel bar

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rigid
• stiff
• stiffened
• solid
• inflexible
• brittle
• strong
• hard
• dense
• sound
• crisp
• compact
• inelastic
• substantial
• firm
• rheumatic
• arthritic
• nonelastic
• nonmalleable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexible
• pliable
• resilient
• pliant
• elastic
• floppy
• supple
• yielding
• workable
• malleable
• plastic
• springy
• stretchy
• soft
• flaccid
• flabby
• mushy
• squishy
• semiflexible
• droopy
• squashy
• limp
• lithe
• willowy
• limber
• lithesome
• lissome
• lank
• semisoft

4

as in stubborn

sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion

despite studies showing that limits on development would hurt the local economy, the town council remained unyielding in their support for these limits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stubborn
• adamant
• steadfast
• hardened
• unbending
• unrelenting
• implacable
• uncompromising
• obstinate
• obdurate
• intransigent
• immovable
• inflexible
• adamantine
• obsessive
• bullheaded
• willful
• mulish
• hard
• dogged
• pertinacious
• headstrong
• opinionated
• hardheaded
• persistent
• strict
• ossified
• perverse
• relentless
• pat
• pigheaded
• determined
• hard-nosed
• self-willed
• stiff-necked
• unflinching
• rigid
• iron
• tenacious
• inconvincible
• inexorable
• deaf to reason
• stern
• defiant
• self-opinionated
• severe
• wayward
• resolved
• wrongheaded
• hard-line
• firm
• single-minded
• cantankerous
• indomitable
• hidebound
• contrary
• uncooperative
• stouthearted
• unconquerable
• intractable
• narrow-minded
• recalcitrant
• unmanageable
• hard-shell
• contumacious
• invincible
• refractory
• disobedient
• mutinous
• unruly
• anal-retentive
• bloody-minded
• insubordinate
• ungovernable
• exacting
• hell-bent
• demanding
• set
• insurgent
• inveterate
• cussed
• confirmed
• froward
• unregenerate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexible
• pliable
• acquiescent
• pliant
• compliant
• agreeable
• amenable
• complying
• yielding
• obedient
• docile
• submissive
• tractable
• responsive
• receptive
• willing
• accepting
• reasonable
• relenting
• placable
• manageable
• temperate
• slavish
• subservient
• persuadable
• governable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unyielding

And that makes these games a wonderful, fleeting distraction from the unyielding things that actually matter. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 10 June 2026

Standridge is an unyielding advocate for sustainable fisheries, and the whole concept behind Mystic Fish Camp, in a sense, is to banish the lobster roll from Connecticut. — Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026

The union’s response was swift, predictable, and unyielding. — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 29 May 2026

Today’s players are reminded of the labor battles their predecessors went through, and the resistance to any sort of salary limit is just as unyielding. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 May 2026