Obdurate
adjective /ˈɒbdjʊrɪt/ — Stubbornly refusing to change; hardened against argument.
Definition
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action; unmoved by persuasion, argument, or appeal.
Beyond the definition
Obdurate is stubbornness that has hardened into stone. The obdurate person has not just decided — they have closed the question. No evidence, no emotion, no argument will reach them. It's will turned to concrete.
Origin & history
From Latin obduratus, past participle of obdurare (to harden) — from ob- (against) + durus (hard). Literally: hardened against. The hardening metaphor is built into the etymology.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Despite overwhelming evidence, the committee remained obdurate in its original position.
He was obdurate in his refusal to apologise, even when he knew he was wrong.
Years of disappointment had made her obdurate — she no longer allowed hope to soften her.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Obdurate” when the meaning fits your context: Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action; unmoved by persuasion, argument, or appeal.
Synonyms
stubborn, unyielding, inflexible, intractable, implacable
Antonyms
Related words
- intractable
- recalcitrant
- inexorable
- adamant
Obdurate vs stubborn
Stubborn is the everyday word for refusing to change one's mind or course. Obdurate is the formal, more extreme version: not just unwilling to move but hardened against all argument, evidence, or emotional appeal. Stubborn people can sometimes be reached with the right approach; obdurate people have closed the question entirely. Obdurate also carries moral weight — it often implies resistance to what is right, not just any disagreement.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Unyielding stance at a crossroads
Two adults stand in a dense forest, each pointing in a different direction while engaged in a stubborn, serious, and unchanging debate.
Their fixed postures and opposing, unyielding positions represent the essence of being obdurate. They are clearly unmoved by the other's argument, remaining anchored to their original perspectives in a way that suggests a firm refusal to shift.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Obdurate" mean?
Obdurate is adjective meaning: Stubbornly refusing to change; hardened against argument.. Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action; unmoved by persuasion, argument, or appeal.
Where does the word "Obdurate" come from?
From Latin obduratus, past participle of obdurare (to harden) — from ob- (against) + durus (hard). Literally: hardened against. The hardening metaphor is built into the etymology.