obstinacy

noun

ob·​sti·​na·​cy ˈäb-stə-nə-sē 

plural obstinacies

1

a

: the quality or state of being obstinate : stubbornness

She held to her own opinion with great obstinacy.

b

: the quality or state of being difficult to remedy, relieve, or subdue

the obstinacy of tuberculosis

2

: an instance of being obstinate

irritated by the senator's obstinacies

Synonyms

• bullheadedness
• doggedness
• hardheadedness
• intransigence
• mulishness
• obduracy
• obdurateness
• obstinateness
• opinionatedness
• pertinaciousness
• pertinacity
• pigheadedness
• self-opinionatedness
• self-will
• stubbornness
• willfulness

Examples of obstinacy in a Sentence

the mindless obstinacy of those people who continue to insist that the earth is flat

Recent Examples on the Web

Campbell’s thirst to learn protected him from obstinacy. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 May 2025

But as Nicky expands his interests and each man gains power, their lives become entangled in a story of hot temples, obstinacy, money, love and deception. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2025

Yet, over time, Bashar Assad inherited his father’s obstinacy and brutality and increasingly relied on the security apparatus to maintain control, stifling dissent and curbing opposition. —Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024

That is the popular girl’s cross to bear, and the desperate obstinacy that comes with this realization is one of Cody’s main themes. —Rafaela Bassili, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

obstinacy

noun

ob·​sti·​na·​cy ˈäb-stə-nə-sē 

: the quality or state of being obstinate

Medical Definition

obstinacy

noun

ob·​sti·​na·​cy ˈäb-stə-nə-sē 

plural obstinacies

: the quality or state of being obstinate

the obstinacy of tuberculosis