1 stubborn | Definition of stubborn
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stubborn

adjective
stub·​born | \ ˈstə-bərn How to pronounce stubborn (audio) \

Definition of stubborn

1a(1) : unreasonably or perversely unyielding : mulish
(2) : justifiably unyielding : resolute
b : suggestive or typical of a strong stubborn nature a stubborn jaw
2 : performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner stubborn effort
3 : difficult to handle, manage, or treat a stubborn cold
4 : lasting stubborn facts
Other Words from stubborn Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Stubborn as a Mule (Or Some Other Animal) More Example Sentences Learn More about stubborn

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Other Words from stubborn

stubbornly adverb
stubbornness \ ˈstə-​bər(n)-​nəs How to pronounce stubbornness (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for stubborn

obstinate, dogged, stubborn, pertinacious, mulish mean fixed and unyielding in course or purpose. obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence. an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence. pursued the story with dogged perseverance stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable. a person too stubborn to admit error pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence. a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy. a mulish determination to have his own way

Stubborn as a Mule (Or Some Other Animal)

Most of us are familiar with the expression stubborn as a mule, which some feel is unfair to this hybrid animal. In fairness to the mule, let us look at some of the other animals that the English language has seen fit to equate with stubbornness over the years. John Wolcot wrote of being “as stubborn as a halter’d ram.” In the 19th century satirical work The Family of the Seisers, a character is described as being “as stubborn as a dog-fish.” And a character in Maria Edgeworth’s play Love and Law describes her own hair as “stubborn as a Presbyterian.” These curious phrases are, however, exceptional: the mule is by far the most commonly referenced animal when describing stubbornness. We have been using as stubborn as a mule since at least 1771, when the expression appears in Tobias Smollett’s The Expedition of Humphry Clinker.

Examples of stubborn in a Sentence

Louise was not the first to posit the idea of a miniature horse ancestral to the Arab; but she was the only one stubborn enough to prove it. — Jason Elliot, Mirrors of the Unseen, 2006 To remove stubborn price tags from items like dishes and glassware, I use a cotton pad or Q-tip soaked with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol dissolves the sticky glue and doesn't mess up my manicure. — Kathe Palmucci, Real Simple, April 2003 In the search for strategies to deal with the stubborn and deadly problem of driving under the influence, many cops are turning to an unusual tactic: Recruiting volunteer drinkers and drug users to teach officers to recognize impaired drivers. — Russell Gold, Wall Street Journal, 29 Oct. 2002 She's wrong, but she's too stubborn to admit it. I admire his stubborn refusal to quit. trying to treat a stubborn infection
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Sac Balam is still out there, keeping its story safe for anyone intrepid, or stubborn, enough to seek it out. — Lizzie Wade, Science | AAAS, "In search of the ‘white Jaguar’: Archaeologists travel deep into the jungle to find a lost Maya city," 5 Sep. 2019 The nine-year cycle of growing cork, Alentejo’s clock, is stubborn, slow moving, durable — and just right. — Eric Lipton, New York Times, "A Portugal of Pristine Beaches, Tiny Villages and Little Else," 31 Aug. 2019 Cliff Hogg III Age: 53 Hometown: Houston Current City: Houston Occupation: Petroleum Engineer Three adjectives that describe you: Funny, stubborn, and caring. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, "Meet the cast of Big Brother season 21," 17 June 2019 But perhaps Thorne, who refused to concede, was right to be stubborn. — Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, "Alice and Bob Meet the Wall of Fire," 21 Dec. 2012 The Dodgers hitters, collectively among the most stubborn and tenacious in baseball, can turn good into bad in a hurry. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Dodgers’ Buehler continues to own Padres," 27 Aug. 2019 Another stubborn problem is that the average age of first-time Ph.D. investigators has hovered at 42 years for 2 decades, up from 36 in 1980. — Jocelyn Kaiser, Science | AAAS, "For a decade, Francis Collins has shielded NIH—while making waves of his own," 15 Aug. 2019 This is a big, stubborn problem in how science gets communicated. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "How to combat overhyped science news," 11 June 2019 To solve its stubborn financial problems, a city-county task force says the San Antonio Symphony needs to expand its donor base, collaborate more with other organizations, install permanent leadership and create more dynamic programming. — Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, "Task force releases strategic plan for the San Antonio Symphony," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stubborn.' 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 stubborn

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

History and Etymology for stubborn

Middle English stibourne, stuborn

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