as in obstinate
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
he's just being stubborn, refusing even to try the new toothpaste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
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
stubborn stains
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
Think of fat as stubborn, remaining intact from day to day, not budging until a substantial number of calories (kcals) is expended — a whopping 3500 kcals per pound of fat.
—
Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
Shelton specializes in past-their-prime athletes, and Costner’s performance is one of his warmest, portraying Roy as a stubborn fool whose inability to compromise is starting to feel like a defense mechanism to protect him from ever getting his hopes dashed.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 25 July 2025
Moore has now joined a long list of politicians who have learned that facts are a stubborn thing.
—Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025
Spin scrubbers offer a serious boost in power, helping to lift stubborn stains, soap scum, hard water buildup, and kitchen messes that would otherwise require a lot of elbow grease.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stubborn
Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
Shelton specializes in past-their-prime athletes, and Costner’s performance is one of his warmest, portraying Roy as a stubborn fool whose inability to compromise is starting to feel like a defense mechanism to protect him from ever getting his hopes dashed.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 25 July 2025
Moore has now joined a long list of politicians who have learned that facts are a stubborn thing.
—Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025
Spin scrubbers offer a serious boost in power, helping to lift stubborn stains, soap scum, hard water buildup, and kitchen messes that would otherwise require a lot of elbow grease.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stubborn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stubborn
Adjective
-
All that being said, the controls can still feel frustratingly obstinate at times, and get in the way of the overall experience.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
-
More: McConnell called Trump 'despicable' and a 'narcissist,' cried after Capitol riot, new book says Now out of GOP leadership, McConnell has emerged as the most obstinate member of a loose cohort of Republican senators willing to criticize the president’s policies and nominees.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
6 Jan. 2021
Adjective
-
Since camp got underway, he's been adamant that winning games is far more important than his personal stats.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
Liverpool communicated an interest in acquiring the Sweden international for around £120m, though Newcastle have been adamant for months that Isak is not for sale.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Flash mobs in the Loop are a real problem demanding hardheaded solutions.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2025
-
British officials know this and sometimes despair that their country has not found a way to be more hardheaded.—
Sam Knight,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, their headstrong father, Kevin Jonas Sr., is the proud owner of The Album after beating out competitors in a bidding war for the purchase of a portion of the Jonas Brothers catalog.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
21 July 2025
-
Two headstrong Koreans can’t agree on who’s treating who to dinner, causing their casual restaurant outing to spiral into a martial arts deathmatch.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Its steadfast dedication to its classic roots, combined with a fearless spirit of innovation, results in pieces that never fail to amaze.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
14 July 2025
-
But others in the political realm have been steadfast in their support of Gunn’s framing of the character.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Trump campaigned on a vow to end the Russia-Ukraine war but has had little success so far, largely because Putin has been intransigent in terms of offering concessions.—
Ian Swanson,
The Hill,
19 May 2025
-
And ever since, Cambodia has not been quite as foolishly intransigent on discussions of the South China Sea.—
Bilahari Kausikan,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Feb. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Stubborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stubborn. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share