set in one's ways
Resistant to change
Set in one's ways describes someone resistant to changing habits, opinions, or routines.
The phrase implies inflexibility that comes with age or long practice: My grandfather is too set in his ways to learn new technology.
It's usually mildly critical, suggesting stubbornness rather than admirable consistency.
Unable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unadaptableCannot modify to fit
- immovableIncapable of being shifted
uncompromising · intransigent · adamant · ossified · calcified · fossilized · hidebound · stuck
Belonging to earlier times
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- conventionalFollowing accepted practices
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
- old-schoolAdhering to past methods
time-honored · staid · provincial · fuddy-duddy · fogeyish · behind the times · antiquated · dated
Firmly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- obdurateStubbornly refusing to change
willful · pigheaded · hardheaded · contrary · contrarian · opinionated · unpersuadable · inconvincible
Regular sequence of actions
- customaryDone by convention
- habituatedConditioned by repetition
- ingrainedFirmly established by habit
- accustomedAdapted through habit
repetitive · automatic · mechanical · systematic · regular · consistent · patterned · creature of habit
rigid
Unable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unadaptableCannot modify to fit
immovable · uncompromising · intransigent · adamant · ossified · calcified · fossilized · hidebound · stuck · entrenched
old-fashioned
Belonging to earlier times
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- conventionalFollowing accepted practices
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
old-school · time-honored · staid · provincial · fuddy-duddy · fogeyish · behind the times · antiquated · dated · square
obstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
obdurate · willful · pigheaded · hardheaded · contrary · contrarian · opinionated · unpersuadable · inconvincible · close-minded
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- customaryDone by convention
- habituatedConditioned by repetition
- ingrainedFirmly established by habit
accustomed · repetitive · automatic · mechanical · systematic · regular · consistent · patterned · creature of habit · predictable
set in one's waysflexible
Able to bend freely
adaptable · open-minded · malleable · go with the flow · versatile
set in one's waysadventurous
Inclined toward risky endeavors
curious · experimental · exploratory · free-spirited · unconventional
set in one's waysopen-minded
Receptive to different ideas
broad-minded · receptive · progressive · forward-thinking · liberal-minded
sets, setting, setter, setters, ones, oneness, ways, wayward, wayside