obstinacy
Refusal to yield
Obstinacy is stubborn refusal to change one's opinion or course of action despite reason or persuasion.
The word carries a negative connotation—where persistence might be admirable, obstinacy suggests pigheadedness: His obstinacy cost him friendships.
The quality borders on perversity, implying someone clings to a position precisely because others oppose it.
Persistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
- doggednessUnyielding determination to continue
persistence · grit · fortitude · unwavering · resoluteness · single-mindedness · unshakeable · indomitable
Stubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- willfulIntentionally unyielding
obdurate · pertinacious · recalcitrant · contrary · defiant · uncooperative · intractable · perverse
Unable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- adamantStubbornly refusing to yield
- immovableIncapable of being shifted
intransigent · implacable · uncompromising · hardline · hidebound · diehard · entrenched · unmovable
tenacity
Persistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
doggedness · persistence · grit · fortitude · unwavering · resoluteness · single-mindedness · unshakeable · indomitable · relentless
pigheaded
Stubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
willful · obdurate · pertinacious · recalcitrant · contrary · defiant · uncooperative · intractable · perverse · ornery
rigid
Unable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- adamantStubbornly refusing to yield
immovable · intransigent · implacable · uncompromising · hardline · hidebound · diehard · entrenched · unmovable · closed-minded
- collective nounsflock, herd, school, pack, swarm
- stubbornnessstubbornness, pigheadedness, bullheadedness, mulishness, hardheadedness
- unrulinessmisbehavior, misconduct, disobedience, defiance, insubordination
- closed-mindednessclosed-mindedness, close-mindedness, narrow-mindedness, inflexibility, rigidity
- narrow-mindednessnarrow-mindedness, narrowness, close-mindedness, closed-mindedness, close-minded
- persistence wordspersistence, stubbornness, tenacity, determination, doggedness
obstinacyopen-mindedness
Acceptance of differing viewpoints
receptiveness · receptivity · flexibility · broad-mindedness · reasonableness
obstinacycompliance
Adhering to requirements
obedience · submission · acquiescence · docility · submissiveness
obstinacypliability
Ability to bend easily
pliancy · flexibility · pliableness · pliantness · malleability