as in persistence
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
the administrator was known for her unyielding obduracy even in the face of proof that she was wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obduracy
Related: ‘Neglected diseases’ are anything but neglected by the billion-plus people living with them
One possible reason for this obduracy is that noma begins as a dental disease, and dental diseases have long been underappreciated global health concerns.
—
John Button, STAT, 16 Dec. 2023
Andreas blames the obduracy of U.S. politicians and bureaucrats for the persistence of the drug wars, despite their evident failure and their huge financial and human costs.
—Russell Crandall, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Perhaps the greatest testament to Morocco’s obduracy came late in normal time, when Rodri — a central midfielder being deployed as a central defender — strode forward and shot, more in hope than in expectation, from 35 yards.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2022
But a year later, more than two dozen of them remain stuck in Afghanistan, stalled by bureaucratic wrangling, the vagaries of international diplomacy and the obduracy of the Taliban government.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022
Real Madrid beat Liverpool, 1-0, on Saturday in Paris with a performance of ruthless efficiency, of meticulous organization, of clinical obduracy.
—New York Times, 28 May 2022
In mid-March, Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a reversal of course after his earlier obduracy against asking for help.
—Samanth Subramanian, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2022
The rise of the Delta variant and the obduracy of vaccination resisters altered the landscape of the pandemic in just the last few months.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2021
Myanmar is also being consumed by the coronavirus, a health disaster that has been exacerbated by the junta’s obduracy.
—BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2021
John Button, STAT, 16 Dec. 2023
Andreas blames the obduracy of U.S. politicians and bureaucrats for the persistence of the drug wars, despite their evident failure and their huge financial and human costs.
—Russell Crandall, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Perhaps the greatest testament to Morocco’s obduracy came late in normal time, when Rodri — a central midfielder being deployed as a central defender — strode forward and shot, more in hope than in expectation, from 35 yards.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2022
But a year later, more than two dozen of them remain stuck in Afghanistan, stalled by bureaucratic wrangling, the vagaries of international diplomacy and the obduracy of the Taliban government.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022
Real Madrid beat Liverpool, 1-0, on Saturday in Paris with a performance of ruthless efficiency, of meticulous organization, of clinical obduracy.
—New York Times, 28 May 2022
In mid-March, Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a reversal of course after his earlier obduracy against asking for help.
—Samanth Subramanian, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2022
The rise of the Delta variant and the obduracy of vaccination resisters altered the landscape of the pandemic in just the last few months.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2021
Myanmar is also being consumed by the coronavirus, a health disaster that has been exacerbated by the junta’s obduracy.
—BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obduracy
Noun
-
Research by Michael Scheier and Charles Carver found that optimism fuels persistence because optimistic individuals envision reaching their goals, even during setbacks.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Not only about the persistence of violence against women but about the confusions present across our societies.—
Katie Ebner-Landy,
The New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Economists say the trajectory for both countries is worrying, warning that the absence of growth, fiscal imbalances and political intransigence could lead to decline and a loss of standing for Europe, as a whole.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
2 Jan. 2025
-
For journalistic perspective, a critic Jameson might be compared with, in stature and longevity, but also fortitude and intransigence, is Harold Bloom, who died in 2019 at eighty-nine.—
Mark Greif,
Harper's Magazine,
26 July 2024
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
The tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
2 May 2023
-
Dan recalled of his daughter’s persistency.—
Eric Sondheimer Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Dec. 2020
Noun
-
But that also is when the Heat will have to display a resolve to stomach something better over the regular-season’s final 29 games.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Nosek showed that resolve Tuesday night with a team-high 15 points, but the host Mustangs were hardly a smooth-running machine in a 66-58 nonconference loss to Yorkville in Aurora.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But also injuries and ailments at all the wrong times, as well as overt self-will at times.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2025
-
So for those of us torn between watching the sun get blotted out and getting blotto keeping our attention on a particularly good rock show, this exercise in multi-tasking was a real contest of self-will.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2024
Noun
-
Newsweek has reached out to legal experts to analyze whether Trump's executive order truly contradicts the 14th Amendment and, if so, to clarify the legal reasoning behind such a determination.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
-
That's fine; the letter's arrival is not a final determination.—
Jeff Weiner,
Axios,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obduracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obduracy. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share