What does stubborn mean?
Stubborn describes a person, behaviour, or difficulty marked by resistance to change or persuasion. A stubborn person may cling to an opinion, refuse compromise, or continue pursuing a course of action despite advice, pressure, or evidence that another approach would be better. The word is often mildly critical because it implies inflexibility, although it can also be used positively to praise firm determination. When applied to an obstacle, stain, or problem, stubborn indicates that the thing persists despite attempts to remove or overcome it. In everyday use, stubborn often combines with words such as refusal, resistance, insistence, and streak, emphasizing repeated opposition or an enduring quality. It is similar to obstinate, but stubborn is the more familiar general term, while obstinate can sound more formal or emphatic.
adjectiveRefusing to change one's opinion, behaviour, or course of action despite persuasion, pressure, or evidence. It can also describe something that is difficult to remove, dislodge, or overcome.
- Refusing to change one's mind, behaviour, or course of action despite persuasion, pressure, or evidence.
- Persistently difficult to remove, dislodge, or overcome, especially when describing a problem or obstruction.
"Her stubborn refusal to apologize left the dispute unresolved."
"The stubborn child refused to leave the playground."
"A stubborn stain remained on the fabric despite repeated attempts to remove it."
A stubborn person may not have the strongest argument, but they often have the greatest determination to keep making it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stubborn come from?
The word developed from the combination of stub and born, with the sense of being born with a stubborn or persistent nature. Its history reflects the idea of something that remains fixed or difficult to dislodge, much like a stub. The word is now common in both British and American English, and its derivatives stubbornly and stubbornness preserve the same idea of determined resistance.
Related word forms
How stubborn is actually used
Stubborn is generally informal to neutral and often carries a mildly critical or teasing connotation when applied to a person. It can also be used approvingly to suggest determined persistence.
Easily confused with stubborn
Stubborn commonly describes a person or their behaviour, whereas obstinate often emphasizes determined resistance to persuasion or change.