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
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 obstinacy
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
Odenkirk was one of several perfectly cast actors in the episode, a force capable of matching Bernthal’s intensity and obstinacy.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024
Politics, even now, is about more than baubles and encomia, and in their obstinacy, most voters remain at least somewhat interested in the policies that each candidate brings to the feast.
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 29 July 2024
People talk a lot about artificial intelligence but not enough about artificial obstinacy.
—David Brooks, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for obstinacy
Rafaela Bassili, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024
Odenkirk was one of several perfectly cast actors in the episode, a force capable of matching Bernthal’s intensity and obstinacy.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024
Politics, even now, is about more than baubles and encomia, and in their obstinacy, most voters remain at least somewhat interested in the policies that each candidate brings to the feast.
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 29 July 2024
People talk a lot about artificial intelligence but not enough about artificial obstinacy.
—David Brooks, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for obstinacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstinacy
Noun
-
Keyon Monte’s journey through the world of theater has been shaped by persistence, reinvention and a deep love for storytelling.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 July 2025
-
For hackers, this method offers the ultimate persistence.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Given Putin’s intransigence, the U.S.-led peace process the Trump administration has attempted to spark hasn’t achieved anything other than several rounds of prisoner releases between Russia and Ukraine.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
15 July 2025
-
Ace Bailey’s landing spot in the NBA 2025 Draft has been the subject of great recent speculation because of his seeming intransigence during the pre-draft process.—
Jack Magruder,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
The political scientist Robert Powell’s game theory model of conventional war and nuclear escalation, for example, has shown that the possibility of conventional war between nuclear powers depends on the level of risk and the balance of resolve.—
Carter Malkasian,
Foreign Affairs,
17 July 2025
-
Advertisement Though supporters have billed the measure as a symbolic gesture of budget-cutting resolve, the actual fiscal impact of the package is small.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
15 July 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
-
However, their passion for the sport and determination led to changes in the rules, allowing Muslim women to compete in full-body uniforms at both collegiate and national levels.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
14 July 2025
-
Remarkably, much of the recovery from the 2017 hurricanes has been self-funded, underscoring the resilience and determination of the BVI.—
Panorama Media Ltd,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obstinacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstinacy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share