dead-ender
Refuses to quit
A dead-ender is someone who persists in a hopeless cause or refuses to abandon a losing position.
The term suggests stubborn commitment past the point of reason—continuing to fight when defeat is certain: A few dead-enders still insisted the product would succeed despite three years of losses.
Often used dismissively for those clinging to discredited ideas or failed leaders.
Incapable of producing results
- doomedDestined for destruction
- lost causeEndeavor certain to fail
- no-winLacking any favorable outcome
- pointlessLacking any purpose
desperate · bleak · defeatist · quixotic · forlorn · despairing · resigned · defeated
Refusing to change course
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- holdoutOne refusing to participate
- diehardStubbornly committed supporter
hardliner · uncompromising · inflexible · adamant · bullheaded · pigheaded · dogged · obdurate
Road without outlet
- cul-de-sacStreet closed at end
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
- circleCurved closed shape
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
close · loop · residential · subdivision · driveway · street · neighborhood · block
futile
Incapable of producing results
- doomedDestined for destruction
- lost causeEndeavor certain to fail
- no-winLacking any favorable outcome
pointless · desperate · bleak · defeatist · quixotic · forlorn · despairing · resigned · defeated · discouraged
stubborn
Refusing to change course
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- holdoutOne refusing to participate
diehard · hardliner · uncompromising · inflexible · adamant · bullheaded · pigheaded · dogged · obdurate · steadfast
deadend
Road without outlet
- cul-de-sacStreet closed at end
- turnaroundShift in opposite direction
- circleCurved closed shape
court · close · loop · residential · subdivision · driveway · street · neighborhood · block · lane
dead-enderpragmatist
One favoring practical approaches
realist · adapter · moderate · compromiser · centrist
dead-enderpragmatist
One favoring practical approaches
dealmaker · negotiator · incrementalist · gradualist · horse-trader
dead-enderrealist
One accepting hard truths
quitter · defector · capitulator · surrenderer · turncoat
dead, end, ender, deader, deadest, deadly, deaden, deadened, deadening