What does obstinately mean?
Obstinately describes the way a person acts when they refuse, firmly and persistently, to change an opinion, intention, or course of action. The word often implies that the person is holding firm despite persuasion, evidence, difficulty, or opposition. It can be used in criticism, as when someone obstinately insists on an unreasonable demand, but it can also be approving when it describes determined resistance to injustice or a refusal to compromise on an important principle. In everyday use, the adverb is more formal than the familiar alternatives “stubbornly” and “headstrongly,” while remaining understandable in both British and American English. Its force comes from combining firmness with persistence: the action is not merely a single refusal, but a sustained refusal to yield.
adverbIn a stubborn, unyielding manner; firmly refusing to change one's course, opinion, or intention.
- In a stubborn or unyielding manner, especially in refusing to change one's opinion, intention, or course of action.
"She obstinately refused to reconsider the proposal despite the clear evidence."
"The child obstinately continued playing despite being called inside."
"The committee obstinately defended its original decision in the face of criticism."
Obstinacy can be admirable when it protects a conviction, but it can also turn disagreement into a contest of wills.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does obstinately come from?
The word comes through the Latin adjective obstinatus, meaning firmly resolved or persistent, and the related verb obstinare, meaning to persist resolutely. Its roots also include the Latin prefix ob-, suggesting opposition or resistance, together with a root associated with standing or remaining fixed. In English, the family developed through obstinate, obstinacy, and obstinately, preserving the sense of firmness and refusal to yield.
Related word forms
How obstinately is actually used
The adverb is often critical or mildly disapproving when it describes someone refusing to reconsider a position, but it can also be approving when persistence is considered admirable. It is formal in register and is common in both British and American English.