as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a mulish determination to have his own way
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Recent Examples of mulish
View Photos For those who have thus far been kept out of BMWs by an innate sense of fiscal responsibility (or a mulish loan officer), the biggest news here is the price: our 318is, as tested, cost a modest $21,985.
—
William Jeanes, Car and Driver, 28 Apr. 2023
But his insistence—which is so adamant as to be mulish—that order is a good thing (even if enforced by a tyrant) if the alternative is anarchy (even in pursuit of a liberal democracy) will find few takers among those who aren’t admirers of Agamemnon or worshipers of Zeus.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 13 Jan. 2023
Again, that is happening while the Biden administration makes U.S. energy production increasingly difficult, putting more upward pressure on prices in its mulish determination to appease the far Left.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 7 Feb. 2022
His daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), who comes to see him, is galled by the situation, but Anthony is mulish and unmoved.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2021
And still fashion week keeps its mulish course, a carousel spinning madly.
—Matthew Schneier, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2018
Although the Democrat who defeated him, Sheldon Whitehouse, is not considered unfriendly to the environment, Chafee's ouster has to please Sen. James Inhofe, the mulish Republican chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
—Wired News Report, WIRED, 8 Nov. 2006
William Jeanes, Car and Driver, 28 Apr. 2023
But his insistence—which is so adamant as to be mulish—that order is a good thing (even if enforced by a tyrant) if the alternative is anarchy (even in pursuit of a liberal democracy) will find few takers among those who aren’t admirers of Agamemnon or worshipers of Zeus.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 13 Jan. 2023
Again, that is happening while the Biden administration makes U.S. energy production increasingly difficult, putting more upward pressure on prices in its mulish determination to appease the far Left.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 7 Feb. 2022
His daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), who comes to see him, is galled by the situation, but Anthony is mulish and unmoved.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2021
And still fashion week keeps its mulish course, a carousel spinning madly.
—Matthew Schneier, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2018
Although the Democrat who defeated him, Sheldon Whitehouse, is not considered unfriendly to the environment, Chafee's ouster has to please Sen. James Inhofe, the mulish Republican chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
—Wired News Report, WIRED, 8 Nov. 2006
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mulish
Adjective
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Across the Rockies and beyond, many of our favorite mountains were haunted by unseasonably warm spikes and stubborn weather patterns that shut out snow for weeks on end.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
31 Mar. 2026
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For stubborn blockages, a plumber’s snake can help break things loose.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Conservative Republicans were adamant, however, against establishing a precedent that allows Congress during the yearly appropriations process to fund some agencies within Homeland Security, but not others.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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However, even as the team trudges to a play-in spot rather than a top seed, Green was adamant that the Warriors’ standard of competitiveness cannot change.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mulish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mulish. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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