stubborn

[ stuhb-ern ]

adjective

1. unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving:

   a stubborn child.

   Synonyms: obdurate, headstrong, unyielding, refractory, intractable, contrary

   Antonyms: tractable

2. fixed or set in purpose or opinion; resolute:

   a stubborn opponent of foreign aid.

   Synonyms: persevering

   Antonyms: irresolute

3. obstinately maintained, as a course of action:

   a stubborn resistance.

4. difficult to manage or suppress:

   a stubborn horse; a stubborn pain.

5. hard, tough, or stiff, as stone or wood; difficult to shape or work.

stubborn

/ ˈstʌbən /

adjective

1. refusing to comply, agree, or give in; obstinate
2. difficult to handle, treat, or overcome
3. persistent and dogged

   a stubborn crusade

Derived Forms

• ˈstubbornness, noun
• ˈstubbornly, adverb

Other Words From

• stubborn·ly adverb
• stubborn·ness noun
• pre·stubborn adjective
• un·stubborn adjective
• un·stubborn·ly adverb
• un·stubborn·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stubborn¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English stiborn(e), styborne, stuborn ; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of stubborn¹

C14 stoborne, of obscure origin

Synonym Study

Stubborn, dogged, obstinate, persistent imply fixity of purpose or condition and resistance to change. Stubborn and obstinate both imply resistance to advice, entreaty, remonstrance, or force; but stubborn implies more of innate quality and is the more frequently used when referring to inanimate things: stubborn disposition; stubborn difficulties. Dogged implies pertinacity and grimness in doing something, especially in the face of discouragements: dogged determination. Persistent implies having staying or lasting qualities, resoluteness, and perseverance: persistent questioning.

Example Sentences

“He’s not afraid. While he has his confidence, he’s not stubborn and he’s not arrogant.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I personally will be come and be here regardless of what goes on there. But I’m a crazy, stubborn old lady. Families will not come back here. It’s impossible.”

From BBC

While others in the field have attempted to break tire materials down using high heat, through a process known as pyrolysis, 6PPD is stubborn and the diketone molecules remain in the oil left behind.

From Science Daily

The clumsy, shy 10-year-old is one of the most endearing characters in Springfield, thanks in part to his halting, sheepish voice and his stubborn resilience.

From New York Times

It is a combination of numbness and a stubborn determination to both protect myself and carry on.

From Salon

Related Words

• adamant
• determined
• dogged
• headstrong
• inflexible
• intractable
• ornery
• persistent
• perverse
• relentless
• rigid
• single-minded
• steadfast
• tenacious
• tough
• unshakable
• willful

More About Stubborn

Where does stubborn come from?

The origin of stubborn is itself fittingly stubborn, or “unreasonably obstinate.” We might assume stubborn is connected to stub, a “short, projecting part or remaining piece” that is often immovable and unyielding. But that just doesn’t seem to be true.

Stubborn is recorded around 1350–1400 and took such forms as stiborn(e), styborne, and stuborn. Beyond that, we just don’t really know. Thanks for nothing, stubborn.

Stubborn isn’t alone: it finds lots of company in other English words that seem simple but whose origins are not. Discover more in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We Don’t Know Where They Came From.”

Did you know … ?

Some words that are very similar to stubborn include obstinate, dogged, and persistent.

Looking for other synonyms for stubborn? Head on over to Thesaurus.com for loads more. 

We usually consider stubbornness to be a bad quality of a close-minded person acting in some unreasonable way (such as a stubborn child) or refusing to change their mind (e.g., stubborn holdout). Stubborn is also used to describe inanimate things that refuse to budge or cooperate, as in a stubborn nail or stubborn belief.

The expression stubborn as a mule is used to describe an especially unwavering or uncooperative instance of stubbornness. The simile evokes the proverbial stubbornness of mules, who were once commonly used as draft animals.