as in persistence
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
between my brother's stubbornness and my own, it's amazing when we come to an agreement about anything
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Recent Examples of stubbornness
There are many stories about artists whose stubbornness prevented them from changing with the times.
—
Michael Cuby, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
Somehow, through therapy and counseling, sheer grit and stubbornness, Giuffre found a way to build a life.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Baseball’s stubbornness and insistence on staggering all of its postseason games left a terrific pitcher’s duel between two of the game’s young stars to start shortly after lunch on the East Coast and just a bit after breakfast on the West Coast.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
So, why does intellectual stubbornness so often carry the day?
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
For all his individual stubbornness and spite, Milošević could not match the resilience and determination of Serbia’s citizens.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
But the Steelers, for whatever reason, insisted on rushing, and their stubbornness fed into four scoreless drives in the second half.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
What led me to actually having the opportunity to do it was a combination of luck, timing and stubbornness.
—Stephanie Kaloi, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Weaponized stubbornness Scoring is a straightforward concept, but success in this realm evaded Florida Saturday night.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Michael Cuby, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
Somehow, through therapy and counseling, sheer grit and stubbornness, Giuffre found a way to build a life.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Baseball’s stubbornness and insistence on staggering all of its postseason games left a terrific pitcher’s duel between two of the game’s young stars to start shortly after lunch on the East Coast and just a bit after breakfast on the West Coast.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
So, why does intellectual stubbornness so often carry the day?
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
For all his individual stubbornness and spite, Milošević could not match the resilience and determination of Serbia’s citizens.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
But the Steelers, for whatever reason, insisted on rushing, and their stubbornness fed into four scoreless drives in the second half.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
What led me to actually having the opportunity to do it was a combination of luck, timing and stubbornness.
—Stephanie Kaloi, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Weaponized stubbornness Scoring is a straightforward concept, but success in this realm evaded Florida Saturday night.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stubbornness
Noun
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These entrepreneurs have built their paths through persistence, creativity, and a focus on real-world impact.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
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Menounos says her persistence saved her life.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For him, obstinacy was far worse than correction.—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Most tragically, the Palestinians have been given abundant reason to believe that obstinacy and terrorism are far better tools than concession and diplomacy.—
Tom Rogan,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Home Service Insurance segment experienced a decline in premiums, attributed to strategic actions to improve sales quality and persistency, as well as economic pressures such as inflation.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
2 May 2023
Noun
-
Trump has also wisely canceled the Budapest summit with Putin, citing Russian intransigence.—
Daniel Fried,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
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An ally turns In his address Monday morning to explain his decision to resign, Lecornu blamed political parties' intransigence for the impasse France finds itself in.—
Charlotte Reed,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Related: ‘Neglected diseases’ are anything but neglected by the billion-plus people living with them One possible reason for this obduracy is that noma begins as a dental disease, and dental diseases have long been underappreciated global health concerns.—
John Button,
STAT,
16 Dec. 2023
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Perhaps the greatest testament to Morocco’s obduracy came late in normal time, when Rodri — a central midfielder being deployed as a central defender — strode forward and shot, more in hope than in expectation, from 35 yards.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
6 Dec. 2022
Noun
-
Either of these original conditions would compel us to curb our aspirations to self-making, self-saving, and self-liberation as harmful forms of willfulness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
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While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Netflix's latest crime drama is resonant and relentless, offering audiences a sweaty, anxious look at doggedness and sacrifice in the face of a cruel, indifferent economy.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Dissent among the Moscow elite could rise at how the Kremlin has dismissed diplomatic off-ramps in its war of choice, in favor of military doggedness and an unsustainable proxy conflict with NATO.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The latest development puts a spotlight on Miami Dade College’s resolve not to hold a new public hearing on the controversial land deal.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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But grit and resolve can only take a team so far when its active roster is inferior to many of its opponents, and that is the situation the red and gold currently face.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stubbornness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stubbornness. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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