doctrinaire
Inflexible in beliefs
Doctrinaire describes someone who rigidly applies principles or theories without regard for practical circumstances.
A doctrinaire approach prioritizes ideological purity over what actually works: The doctrinaire economist ignored evidence that contradicted his models.
The word carries disapproval—it suggests inflexibility and an unwillingness to adapt beliefs to messy realities.
As a noun, a doctrinaire is such a person.
Unable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- obstinateFirmly refusing to yield
intransigent · pedantic · pontifical · opinionated · adamant · unbending · hardline · orthodox
Arrogantly authoritative
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- high-handedDomineering without regard for others
tyrannical · despotic · autocratic · peremptory · bossy · magisterial · commanding · heavy-handed
rigid
Unable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
obstinate · intransigent · pedantic · pontifical · opinionated · adamant · unbending · hardline · orthodox · hidebound
imperious
Arrogantly authoritative
- dictatorialImposing absolute control
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
high-handed · tyrannical · despotic · autocratic · peremptory · bossy · magisterial · commanding · heavy-handed · controlling
partisan
Biased toward one side
- ideologueDogmatic political advocate
- zealotObsessive cause supporter
- puristOne demanding strict adherence
theorist · fundamentalist · orthodox · hardliner · idealist · utopian · absolutist · extremist · radical · sectarian
- closed-mindednessclosed-mindedness, close-mindedness, narrow-mindedness, inflexibility, rigidity
- rigid thinkersdogmatist, fundamentalist, absolutist
- rigid thinkingrigid, dogmatic, rule-bound, absolutist, by-the-book
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
- thinkersthinkers, thinker, philosophers, philosopher, Aristotle
- oppressivestifling, suffocating, smothering, crushing, repressive
doctrinaireflexible
Able to bend freely
open-minded · receptive · amenable · adaptable · undogmatic
doctrinairepragmatic
Focused on workable solutions
practical · flexible · empirical · realistic · utilitarian
doctrinaireopen-minded
Receptive to different ideas
tolerant · receptive · open · liberal-minded · permissive
doctor, doctrine, doctorate, doctoral, indoctrinate, doctrinal, indoctrination, indoctrinated, indoctrinator