Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
obstinately - 2 dictionary results

ob⋅sti⋅nate

[ob-stuh-nit]
–adjective
1. firmly or stubbornly adhering to one's purpose, opinion, etc.; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or entreaty.
2. characterized by inflexible persistence or an unyielding attitude; inflexibly persisted in or carried out: obstinate advocacy of high tariffs.
3. not easily controlled or overcome: the obstinate growth of weeds.
4. not yielding readily to treatment, as a disease.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L obstinātus (ptp. of obstināre to set one's mind on, be determined), equiv. to ob- ob- + -stin-, comb. form of stan- (deriv. of stāre to stand ) + -ātus -ate 1


ob⋅sti⋅nate⋅ly, adverb
ob⋅sti⋅nate⋅ness, noun


1. mulish, obdurate, unyielding, unbending, intractable, perverse, inflexible, refractory, pertinacious. See stubborn.


1. submissive, tractable.
ob·sti·nate   (ŏb'stə-nĭt)   
adj.  
  1. Stubbornly adhering to an attitude, opinion, or course of action; obdurate.
  2. Difficult to manage, control, or subdue; refractory.
  3. Difficult to alleviate or cure: an obstinate headache.

[Middle English obstinat, from Latin obstinātus, past participle of obstināre, to persist; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
ob'sti·nate·ly adv., ob'sti·nate·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean tenaciously unwilling to yield. Obstinate implies unreasonable rigidity: "Mr. Quincy labored hard with the governor to obtain his assent, but he was obstinate" (Benjamin Franklin).
Stubborn pertains to innate, often perverse resoluteness or unyieldingness: "She was very stubborn when her mind was made up" (Samuel Butler).
One who is headstrong is stubbornly, often recklessly willful: The headstrong teenager ignored school policy.
Stiff-necked implies stubbornness combined with arrogance or aloofness: The stiff-necked customer irked the cashier.
Bullheaded suggests foolish or irrational obstinacy, and pigheaded, stupid obstinacy: Don't be bullheaded; see a doctor. "It's a pity pious folks are so apt to be pigheaded" (Harriet Beecher Stowe).
Mulish implies the obstinacy and intractability associated with a mule: "Obstinate is no word for it, for she is mulish" (Ouida).
Dogged emphasizes stubborn perseverance: dogged persistence; "two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder" (W.E.B. Du Bois).
Pertinacious stresses a tenacity of purpose, opinion, or course of action that is sometimes viewed as vexatious: The tax bill's vocal and pertinacious critics led to its defeat.
Search another word or see obstinately on Thesaurus | Reference