adamant

American  

[ad-uh-muhnt, -mant] / ˈæd ə mənt, -ˌmænt /

adjective

1. utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc.

   Synonyms:

   uncompromising, rigid, inflexible

   Antonyms:

   yielding, easygoing, flexible

2. too hard to cut, break, or pierce.

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noun

1. any impenetrably or unyieldingly hard substance.

2. a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness, formerly sometimes identified with the diamond.

adamant British  

/ ˈædəmənt /

adjective

1. unshakable in purpose, determination, or opinion; unyielding

2. a less common word for adamantine

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noun

1. any extremely hard or apparently unbreakable substance

2. a legendary stone said to be impenetrable, often identified with the diamond or loadstone

Other Word Forms

• adamance noun
• adamancy noun
• adamantly adverb
• unadamant adjective

Etymology

Origin of adamant

First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Old French adamaunt, from Latin adamant- (stem of adamas ) “hard metal (perhaps steel), diamond,” from Greek, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + -damant- verbal adjective of damân “to tame, conquer”; replacing Old English athamans (from Medieval Latin ) and Middle English aymont, from Middle French aimant, from unattested Vulgar Latin adimant-, from Latin

Example Sentences

At the moment, Fifa remains adamant Iran will play its scheduled matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.

From BBC

He was adamant, too, that his side's bid for a place in the Premier League will not be affected by the disappointment.

From BBC

Still adamant something was wrong, she went to her own doctor the next day and was referred to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

From BBC

One of the siblings owes quite a bit of child support, which my parents have been adamant about not paying.

From MarketWatch

He is adamant he will stay in the sport in some capacity, keen to mentor young skiers.

From BBC

Related Words

• determined
• insistent
• intransigent
• resolute
• rigid
• stubborn
• uncompromising