as in stubbornness
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
the mindless obstinacy of those people who continue to insist that the earth is flat
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Recent Examples of obstinacy
The Korean experience also suggests that the obstinacy of Russian President Vladimir Putin—who, like Stalin, seems averse to compromise of any kind—could be especially obstructive.
—
Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
People talk a lot about artificial intelligence but not enough about artificial obstinacy.
—David Brooks, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
In 2015, their nuclear perseverance and obstinacy even compelled Barack Obama to sign an agreement accepting Iran’s status as a nuclear-threshold state, i.e., a state that can assemble a weapon in short order.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Christie has been an immovable object, resisting all entreaties with characteristic obstinacy and swearing to remain in the race until New Hampshire.
—Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for obstinacy
Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
People talk a lot about artificial intelligence but not enough about artificial obstinacy.
—David Brooks, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
In 2015, their nuclear perseverance and obstinacy even compelled Barack Obama to sign an agreement accepting Iran’s status as a nuclear-threshold state, i.e., a state that can assemble a weapon in short order.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Christie has been an immovable object, resisting all entreaties with characteristic obstinacy and swearing to remain in the race until New Hampshire.
—Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for obstinacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstinacy
Noun
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That’s the inventor’s playbook: Patience, persistence, and an ambitious plan.—
Stephen Key,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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The police initially try to write the deaths off as overdoses, but Mickey’s tenacity and persistence force the department to take a closer look.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Home Service Insurance segment experienced a decline in premiums, attributed to strategic actions to improve sales quality and persistency, as well as economic pressures such as inflation.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
13 Mar. 2025
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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
Noun
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Has the president decided his soaring Nielsen ratings are better than a plummeting stock market if there are full-bore tariffs placed on Mexico and Canada because of their intransigence?—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2025
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Its conquest became the keystone of Putin’s political legacy, the marker of Russian intransigence vis-à-vis the West, and Putin’s evidence that Russia’s post-Soviet age of humiliation was over.—
Liana Fix,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Dec. 2022
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Amid the entire harrowing journey, Alex never loses her resolve.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Mar. 2025
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Further, McKinley didn’t display the kind of expansionist zeal or martial fervor that would correspond to Trump’s call for the U.S. acquisition of Greenland, for example, or his resolve to take back the Panama Canal and secure the wrecked land of Gaza.—
Robert W. Merry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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His determination led to McIlroy's second career win at the event, silencing doubters.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
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The city’s Department of Finance was reviewing the OCB determination and did not immediately return a request for comment.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obstinacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstinacy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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