What does obduration mean?
Obduration is a formal noun meaning stubborn persistence, particularly the refusal to change one's opinion, abandon a position, or accept advice. It describes a sustained quality of resistance rather than a brief instance of unwillingness. The word often carries a critical or faintly disapproving tone: while some causes may merit firm commitment, describing conduct as obdurate suggests that someone is being unyielding, perhaps excessively so. Obduration is associated with political, legal, and institutional contexts, where people, groups, or governments may be described as obstinate or unwilling to move despite evidence, pressure, or negotiation. It is less common in everyday speech than stubbornness or obstinacy. The word derives from the same Latin root as the adjective obdurate, and it is useful when a writer wants a precise, elevated term for persistent unyielding resistance.
nounObduration means stubborn persistence, especially an unwillingness to change one's opinion, beliefs, or course of action despite persuasion, criticism, or difficulty.
- Stubborn persistence or unyielding resistance, especially in refusing to change an opinion or accept a course of action.
"His obduration in denying the evidence surprised everyone who had tried to persuade him otherwise."
"The committee's obduration prolonged the discussion for several more hours."
"Faced with repeated warnings, she continued her obduration and refused to leave the building."
The plural is grammatical but rare; the word is normally used in the singular or with an indefinite article.
"His repeated obdurations only strengthened the opposition."
Obduration gives a formal name to the art of refusing to budge, whether through conviction, pride, or sheer reluctance to change.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does obduration come from?
Obduration comes through French from Latin obdurātiōn(em), an abstract noun formed from obdūrāre, “to make hard” or “to harden.” Its components include the prefix ob-, meaning “toward” or “against,” and dūrāre, “to make hard,” from dūrus, “hard.” The word originally referred to hardening or obstinacy and developed into its modern sense of stubborn persistence.
Related word forms
How obduration is actually used
A formal and somewhat literary word. It is often used to describe deliberate, persistent resistance, but it can imply excessive stubbornness rather than justified firmness.
Easily confused with obduration
Obduration is a noun for stubborn persistence, whereas obdurate is an adjective describing a person, position, or resistance as unyielding.