STUBBORN

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does stubborn mean? 

• STUBBORN (adjective)
  The adjective STUBBORN has 2 senses:

1. tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield

2. not responding to treatment

  Familiarity information: STUBBORN used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STUBBORN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield

Synonyms:

obstinate; stubborn; unregenerate

Similar:

bloody-minded; cantankerous (stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate)

bolshy; stroppy (obstreperous)

bullet-headed; bullheaded; pigheaded (obstinate and stupid)

dogged; dour; persistent; pertinacious; tenacious; unyielding (stubbornly unyielding)

contrarious; cross-grained (difficult to deal with)

determined (devoting full strength and concentrated attention to)

hardheaded; mulish (unreasonably rigid in the face of argument or entreaty or attack)

stiff-necked (haughtily stubborn)

strong-minded; strong-willed (having a determined will)

Also:

inflexible; sturdy; uncompromising (not making concessions)

disobedient (not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority)

intractable (not tractable; difficult to manage or mold)

Antonym:

docile (willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed)

Derivation:

stubbornness (resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not responding to treatment

Synonyms:

refractory; stubborn

Context example:

stubborn rust stains

Similar:

intractable (not tractable; difficult to manage or mold)

Derivation:

stubbornness (the trait of being difficult to handle or overcome)

 Context examples 

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Is the patient stubborn, having to have things his/her way?

(NPI - Stubborn, NCI Thesaurus)

But Bill was stubborn, and he ate a dry breakfast washed down with mumbled curses at One Ear for the trick he had played.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Poor Elinor!—here was a new scheme for getting her to Delaford!—but her spirit was stubborn.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“And the boy's is, of all such dispositions that ever I have seen,” remarked his sister, “the most confirmed and stubborn. I think, my dear Clara, even you must observe it?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

You cannot conceive in your mind how stubborn and brainless they are.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"There you reason somewhat ahead of the proved facts," said the stubborn Summerlee.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With infinite difficulty, for he was stubborn as a stone, I persuaded him to make an exchange in favour of a sober black satin and pearl-grey silk.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

On that day, you may come up against a very stubborn, domineering person who won’t want to accept anything you present.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

My pocketbook is stuffed with the old coinage, and it’s a stubborn thing.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But Catherine could be stubborn too; and Mrs. Allen just then coming up to propose their returning home, she joined her and walked out of the pump-room, leaving Isabella still sitting with Captain Tilney.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)