Try This Instead

For
Try This
stubborn resistance
staunch resistance
determined resistance
hardheaded resistance
tenacious resistance
unyielding resistance
a stubborn streak
a defiant streak
a determined streak
a tenacious streak
an uncompromising streak
a rebellious streak
a stubborn child
a hardheaded child
a defiant child
a rebellious child
a headstrong child
an obdurate child
stubborn stains
tough stains
persistent stains
difficult stains
impossible stains

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stubborn distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stubborn are dogged, mulish, obstinate, and pertinacious. While all these words mean "fixed and unyielding in course or purpose," stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable.

a person too stubborn to admit error

When might dogged be a better fit than stubborn?

The meanings of dogged and stubborn largely overlap; however, dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence.

pursued the story with dogged perseverance

When is it sensible to use mulish instead of stubborn?

Although the words mulish and stubborn have much in common, mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.

a mulish determination to have his own way

In what contexts can obstinate take the place of stubborn?

The synonyms obstinate and stubborn are sometimes interchangeable, but obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence.

an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories

When could pertinacious be used to replace stubborn?

While in some cases nearly identical to stubborn, pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence.

a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer

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 stubborn Some of his customers swear by it for getting rid of stubborn pit stains and freshening up musty towels, too. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025 Inflation, already stubborn, is edging higher, fueled partly by those new tariffs. Dan Irvine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 The more plausible argument seems to be that Democrats did worse across the board as the party in power struggled with stubborn inflation and a chaotic immigration influx, both substantially driven by post-pandemic whiplash. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025 One daughter, loving but stubborn, leaves for Vilna to study nursing. Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stubborn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stubborn
Adjective
  • Nobody’s shooting on this season’s Longhorns would be mistaken for Stephen Curry’s, but Schaefer is adamant that this group stands out among his 20-year head-coaching career.
    Ben Pickman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Still, Jenkins was adamant about not moving to the city.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Seven years later, Trump remains steadfast in his support of the act, giving advocates on both sides of the aisle a sense of cautious optimism about the possibility of more reform.
    Taylor Millard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In many ways, however, the tradition and Peterson’s dedication to it remain steadfast.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin were obstinate, colorful negotiators.
    Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 30 Dec. 2024
  • The Founding generation also worried that older men were more inflexible, obstinate, uninterested in change, and stuck in their ways—all leadership qualities at odds with the experimentation needed for representative government.
    Rebecca Brannon / Made by History, TIME, 3 July 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stubborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stubborn. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on stubborn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!