mulish

[ myoo-lish ]
See synonyms for: mulishmulishlymulishness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. of or like a mule, as being very stubborn, obstinate, or intractable.

Origin of mulish

1
First recorded in 1745–55; mule1 + -ish1

Other words from mulish

  • mul·ish·ly, adverb
  • mul·ish·ness, noun
  • un·mul·ish, adjective

Words Nearby mulish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use mulish in a sentence

  • That mulish obstinacy of which you jestingly accused me is in a woman the result of confidence, of a vision of the future.

    Honorine | Honore de Balzac
  • He knew this and yet he felt obstinate, mulish almost, as he sat down to reply non-committally to Miss Van Tuyn's letter.

    December Love | Robert Hichens
  • "I tell you I'm as young as I ever was," this from Mr. Langton, in tones of mulish obstinacy.

  • I am not mulish enough to adhere to a resolution when better counsels are given against it.

    The Lily and the Totem | William Gilmore Simms
  • But being in a hotel salon, with no enemy present more dangerous than a beautiful young girl, it was only mulish.

    Vision House | C. N. Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for mulish

mulish

/ (ˈmjuːlɪʃ) /


adjective
  1. stubborn; obstinate; headstrong

Derived forms of mulish

  • mulishly, adverb
  • mulishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012