obdurate

adjective

ob·​du·​rate ˈäb-də-rət How to pronounce obdurate (audio)
-dyə-;
äb-ˈdu̇r-ət,
əb-,
-ˈdyu̇r-
1
a
: stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
an unrepentant, obdurate sinner
b
: hardened in feelings
The obdurate enemy was merciless.
2
: resistant to persuasion or softening influences
obdurate in his determination
remaining obdurate to her husband's advancesEdith Wharton
obdurately adverb
obdurateness noun

Did you know?

When trying to persuade someone who has an obdurate disposition, you may end up feeling rather dour about your ability to change their mind. To endure such encounters in the future, you may find that you need to be more durable and not let their mulishness get you down. Maybe you will find such situations less stressful if you can face them knowing that the words obdurate, dour, endure, and durable are etymological kissing cousins. All trace back to the Latin adjective durus, which means “hard.”

Choose the Right Synonym for obdurate

inflexible, obdurate, adamant mean unwilling to alter a predetermined course or purpose.

inflexible implies rigid adherence or even servile conformity to principle.

inflexible in their demands

obdurate stresses hardness of heart and insensitivity to appeals for mercy or the influence of divine grace.

obdurate in his refusal to grant clemency

adamant implies utter immovability in the face of all temptation or entreaty.

adamant that the work should continue

Examples of obdurate in a Sentence

He is known for his obdurate determination. the obdurate refusal of the crotchety old man to let the neighborhood kids retrieve their stray ball from his backyard
Recent Examples on the Web To Matthew and Rachelle, who by now had become attuned to the obdurate implacability of British authorities, the coroner’s response was maddening: this was their final opportunity to ascertain the truth. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 Regina Hall came down with pneumonia while shooting Girls Trip, the irreverent 2017 comedy from Will Packer, a savant who repeatedly has shown an obdurate Hollywood that Black movies can mint money at the box office. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2024 By the spring of 1945, with Germany defeated, the Allies turned to an obdurate Japan. Peter Englund, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023 The camera often pans to the obdurate face of an office clock, showing time frozen but also inexorably passing—the burning fuse of Chow and Su’s relationship. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2023 On Tuesday, Torres signed a pledge with a powerful association of some three-hundred eighty thousand military veterans who are notorious for their obdurate conservatism and belligerence. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2023 This is a line of chatter that was heavily promoted by the late private equity billionaire Peter G. Peterson, one of the most obdurate enemies of Social Security. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2023 This is, in a way, the same spirit that leads obdurate politicians to try and purge reams of uncomfortable American history from textbooks, leaving students learning — and living — in a state of confusion, with something always out of order, always unexplained. Niela Orr, New York Times, 6 July 2023 Through the perspective of case law, Chammah explains this country’s obdurate commitment to the death penalty, which has found yet another champion, of late, in a president who has raced to execute federal death row inmates in the waning days of his term. Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, 11 Jan. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obdurate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin obdūrātus, going back to Latin, past participle of obdūrāre "to harden, be persistent, hold out," from ob-, perfective prefix + dūrāre "to harden, hold out, endure" — more at ob-, during

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of obdurate was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near obdurate

Cite this Entry

“Obdurate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obdurate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

obdurate

adjective
ob·​du·​rate ˈäb-d(y)ə-rət How to pronounce obdurate (audio)
äb-ˈd(y)u̇r-ət
1
a
: stubbornly continuing to do wrong
b
: hardened in feelings
2
: hard to convince or persuade : unyielding
obdurately adverb

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