stubborn
UK /ˈstʌbən/ · US /ˈstʌbɚn/ adjective, noun
- adjective Refusing to move or to change one's opinion; obstinate; firmly resisting; persistent in doing something. “People are pretty stubborn about their political beliefs, so why bother arguing?”
- adjective Physically stiff and inflexible; not easily melted or worked.
- noun (informal) Stubbornness.
Synonyms
willful headstrong wayward obstinate obdurate contrary disobedient insubordinate undisciplined adamant unyielding rebellious perseverant persistent enduring unregenerate refractory
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English stiborne, stibourne, stoburn, stoburne, styburne, stiborn, of uncertain origin; one hypothesis is that it may be from Old English *stybbor, from Old English stybb (“a stump, stub”) + -or (adjective-formation suffix, as in bitor, whence English bitter).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Firm as a stub or stump; stiff; unbending; unyielding; persistent; hence, unreasonably obstinate in will or opinion; not yielding to reason or persuasion; refractory; harsh; --said of persons and things; as, stubborn wills; stubborn ore; a stubborn oak; as stubborn as a mule. "Bow, stubborn knees." Shak. "Stubborn attention and more than common application." Locke. "Stubborn Stoics." Swift.
Etymology [OE. stoburn, stiborn; probably fr. AS. styb a stub. See Stub.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “stubborn”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details