Adjacent Words

Stubborn definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

STUBBORN, a. [This word is doubtless formed on the root of stub or stiff, and denotes fixed, firm. But the origin of the latter syllable is not obvious.
1. Unreasonably obstinate; inflexibly fixed in opinion; not to be moved or persuaded by reasons; inflexible; as a stubborn son; a stubborn mind or soul.
The queen is obstinate--stubborn to justice.
2. Persevering; persisting; steady; constant; as stubborn attention.
3. Stiff; not flexible; as a stubborn bow.
Take a plant of stubborn oak.
4. Hardy; firm; enduring without complaint; as stubborn Stoics.
5. Harsh; rough; rugged. [Little used.]
6. Refractory; not easily melted or worked; as a stubborn ore or metal.
7. Refractory; obstinately resisting command, the goad or the whip; as a stubborn ass or horse.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield [syn: stubborn, obstinate, unregenerate] [ant: docile]
2: not responding to treatment; "a stubborn infection"; "a refractory case of acne"; "stubborn rust stains" [syn: refractory, stubborn]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English stibourne, stuborn Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) unreasonably or perversely unyielding ; mulish (2) justifiably unyielding ; resolute b. suggestive or typical of a strong stubborn nature <a stubborn jaw> 2. performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner <stubborn effort> 3. difficult to handle, manage, or treat <a stubborn cold> 4. lasting <stubborn facts> Synonyms: see obstinate • stubbornly adverb • stubbornness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 unreasonably obstinate. 2 unyielding, obdurate, inflexible. 3 refractory, intractable. Derivatives: stubbornly adj. stubbornness n. Etymology: ME stiborn, stoburn, etc., of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Stubborn Stub"born, a. [OE. stoburn, stiborn; probably fr. AS. styb a stub. See Stub.] 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. And I was young and full of ragerie [wantonness] Stubborn and strong, and jolly as a pie. --Chaucer. These heretics be so stiff and stubborn. --Sir T. More. Your stubborn usage of the pope. --Shak. Syn: Obstinate; inflexible; obdurate; headstrong; stiff; hardy; firm; refractory; intractable; rugged; contumacious; heady. Usage: Stubborn, Obstinate. Obstinate is used of either active or passive persistence in one's views or conduct, in spite of the wishes of others. Stubborn describes an extreme degree of passive obstinacy. -- Stub"born*ly, adv. -- Stub"born*ness, n.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. Someone who is stubborn or who behaves in a stubborn way is determined to do what they want and is very unwilling to change their mind. He is a stubborn character used to getting his own way... = obstinate ADJ • stubbornly He stubbornly refused to tell her how he had come to be in such a state. ADV • stubbornness I couldn't tell if his refusal to talk was simple stubbornness. 2. A stubborn stain or problem is difficult to remove or to deal with. This treatment removes the most stubborn stains... = persistent ADJ: usu ADJ n • stubbornly Some interest rates have remained stubbornly high. ADV

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Obstinate, unyielding, inflexible, positive, contumacious, refractory, perverse, headstrong, wilful, dogged, mulish, unruly, unmanageable, ungovernable, intractable, indocile, heady, cross-grained, obdurate. 2. Persevering, persistent, steady, constant, unremitting. 3. Stiff, unpliant, inflexible, firm, tough, hard, strong. 4. Hardy, firm, enduring, stoical, uncomplaining. 5. Refractory, difficult of fusion.

Moby Thesaurus

adamant, adamantine, adherent, adhesive, assiduous, balking, balky, bigoted, bulldogged, bulldoggish, bulldoggy, bulletheaded, bullheaded, cantankerous, cartilaginous, case-hardened, chewy, clingy, cohesive, constant, continuing, contumacious, coriaceous, determined, diligent, dogged, dogmatic, dour, durable, enduring, faithful, fanatic, fibrous, firm, fundamentalist, gluey, glutinous, gristly, gummy, hard, hardheaded, hardy, headstrong, hidebound, immovable, immutable, impliable, inalterable, indefatigable, indomitable, inductile, industrious, inelastic, inexorable, inextensible, inextensile, inextensional, inflexible, insistent, insubordinate, intolerant, intractable, intractile, intransigent, invincible, iron, ironbound, ironclad, ironhanded, irresilient, lasting, leatherlike, leathery, loyal, mulish, muscle-bound, never-tiring, nonelastic, nonstretchable, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, ornery, orthodox, overzealous, patient, patient as Job, permanent, perseverant, persevering, persistent, persisting, pertinacious, pigheaded, plodding, plugging, preoccupied, procrustean, purist, puristic, puritan, puritanic, rapt, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, relentless, resistant, resolute, restive, rigid, rigorist, rigoristic, rigorous, rockbound, ropy, sedulous, self-adhesive, self-willed, set, sinewy, single-minded, sleepless, slogging, stable, steadfast, steady, stickable, sticky, stiff, stiff-necked, straightlaced, straitlaced, stringy, strong, strong-willed, strongheaded, stunt, sulky, sullen, tacky, tenacious, tireless, tough, tough as leather, unabating, unalterable, unbending, uncompromising, unconquerable, uncooperative, undaunted, undiscouraged, undrooping, unextendible, unextensible, unfailing, unfaltering, unflagging, unflexible, unflinching, ungiving, unintermitting, uninterrupted, unlimber, unmalleable, unnodding, unpliable, unpliant, unregenerate, unrelaxing, unrelenting, unremitting, unsleeping, unswerving, untiring, untractable, unwavering, unwearied, unwearying, unwinking, unyielding, utterly attentive, vigorous, viscid, wayward, weariless, willful, wiry