obdurateness
Refusal to soften
Obdurateness is stubborn refusal to change one's mind or course of action, especially in the face of appeals or pressure.
The word carries a harder edge than mere stubbornness—it suggests someone unmoved by arguments, pleas, or even suffering: His obdurateness in negotiations cost the company millions.
The quality borders on heartlessness.
Stubbornly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
immovable · unrelenting · steadfast · unswerving · unshakeable · implacable · indomitable · resolute
Firmly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
willful · dogged · pertinacious · tenacious · intractable · contumacious · recalcitrant · refractory
Cruelly insensitive to others
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
- pitilessLacking any compassion
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
cold-hearted · stony-hearted · uncompassionate · unsympathetic · remorseless · unsparing · harsh · severe
Unable to be affected
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unswayedNot influenced or moved
- unpersuadableImpossible to convince
- unmovableUnable to shift
deaf · closed-minded · unreceptive · unresponsive · unconvincible · insusceptible · uninfluenced · impenetrable
adamant
Stubbornly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
unyielding · immovable · unrelenting · steadfast · unswerving · unshakeable · implacable · indomitable · resolute · determined
obstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
headstrong · willful · dogged · pertinacious · tenacious · intractable · contumacious · recalcitrant · refractory · perverse
callous
Cruelly insensitive to others
ruthless · cold-hearted · stony-hearted · uncompassionate · unsympathetic · remorseless · unsparing · harsh · severe · cruel
impervious
Unable to be affected
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unswayedNot influenced or moved
- unpersuadableImpossible to convince
unmovable · deaf · closed-minded · unreceptive · unresponsive · unconvincible · insusceptible · uninfluenced · impenetrable · defiant
obduratenesscompassion
Concern for others' distress
tenderness · softheartedness · mercifulness · pity · empathy
obduratenessflexibility
Ability to adapt easily
open-mindedness · receptiveness · adaptability · amenability · pliability
obduratenessflexibility
Ability to adapt easily
compliance · acquiescence · pliancy · tractability · docility