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adamantine

adjective
ad路​a路​man路​tine | \ 藢a-d蓹-藞man-藢t膿n How to pronounce adamantine (audio) , -藢t墨n, -藞man-t岬妌\

Definition of adamantine

1 : made of or having the quality of adamant
2 : rigidly firm : unyielding adamantine discipline
3 : resembling the diamond in hardness or luster
Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about adamantine

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Did You Know?

The Greek and Latin word for the hardest imaginable substance, whether applied to a legendary stone or an actual substance, such as diamond, was "adamas." Latin poets used the term figuratively for things lasting, firm, or unbending, and the adjective "adamantinus" was used in similar contexts. The English noun "adamant" (meaning "an unbreakable or extremely hard substance"), as well as the adjective "adamant" (meaning "inflexible" or "unyielding"), came from "adamas." "Adamantine," which has such figurative uses as "rigid," "firm," and "unyielding," came from "adamantinus." "Adamas" is actually the source of "diamond" as well. "Diamas," the Latin term for diamond, was an alteration of "adamas."

Examples of adamantine in a Sentence

the adamantine opposition of his parents to his marriage to a girl from a poor family

Recent Examples on the Web

 Every year The Rock is pre-painted a different color to prepare an adamantine canvas. — courant.com, "In Our Midst: St. Joseph鈥檚 Grads Create A Rock Of Ages," 9 July 2019 Some of the time identity seems to be taken as an adamantine fact: a person鈥檚 identity as a woman or a member of an ethnic minority seems to trump all other considerations. — The Economist, "The centre cannot hold - the failure of Change UK and the atrophying of political thought," 19 June 2019 This gentle, tenacious, adamantine figure has been far too little known in the West鈥攗ntil now. — Cynthia Haven, WSJ, "Book Review: Shouldering the Century鈥檚 Burden," 25 Jan. 2019 But not even adamantine willpower could overcome the exhaustion that Rihanna was feeling in that moment. — Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, "Rihanna on Body Image, Turning 30, and Staying Real鈥擭o Matter What," 3 May 2018 But Navalny, with adamantine determination and a canny use of social media, has spread his anti-corruption campaign deep into the provinces. — Washington Post, "Alternatives to Putin a mixed bag as Russian election looms," 25 Oct. 2017 Harrison鈥檚 music traverses a huge stylistic range, from adamantine dissonance to melodies of homespun sweetness. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, "New York Celebrates a Composer Who Left Town," 14 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adamantine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of adamantine

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for adamantine

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin adamantinus, borrowed from Greek adam谩ntinos, derivative of adamant-, ad谩mas adamant entry 2

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More Definitions for adamantine

adamantine

adjective
ad路​a路​man路​tine | \ 藢ad-蓹-藞man-藢t膿n How to pronounce adamantine (audio) , -藢t墨n How to pronounce adamantine (audio) , -藞mant-岬妌 How to pronounce adamantine (audio) \

Medical Definition of adamantine

: characterized by extreme hardness or luster

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More from Merriam-Webster on adamantine

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for adamantine

Nglish: Translation of adamantine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of adamantine for Arabic Speakers

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