adamant

[ ad-uh-muhnt, -mant ]

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.

noun

1. any impenetrably or unyieldingly hard substance.
2. a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness, formerly sometimes identified with the diamond.

adamant

/ ˈædəmənt /

adjective

1. unshakable in purpose, determination, or opinion; unyielding
2. a less common word for adamantine

noun

1. any extremely hard or apparently unbreakable substance
2. a legendary stone said to be impenetrable, often identified with the diamond or loadstone

Derived Forms

• ˈadamantly, adverb

Other Words From

• ad·a·man·cy [ad, -, uh, -m, uh, n-see], ad·a·mance noun
• ad·a·mant·ly adverb
• un·ad·a·mant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of adamant¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of adamant¹

Old English: from Latin adamant-, stem of adamas, from Greek; literal meaning perhaps: unconquerable, from a- ¹+ daman to tame, conquer

Example Sentences

Those records do not identify the workers’ legal status, but a former BaronHR manager, Stacy Mohler, said some companies were adamant about vetting workers, while others just wanted “a warm body.”

From New York Times

Mayor Femke Halsema is adamant that antisemitism should not be followed by other forms of racism, emphasising that the safety of one group must not come at the expense of another.

From BBC

They were adamant that water remained available at other sources nearby.

From Los Angeles Times

But Ms Gray is adamant it was her decision, we are told, and she never spoke directly to the prime minister about it.

From BBC

Mr Hutton said scenarios where parents were "absolutely adamant that their child is right even when evidence is put to them" were now more common.

From BBC

Related Words

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