obstinateob‧sti‧nate /ˈɒbstənət $ ˈɑːb-/ adjective 
He was the most obstinate man I’ve ever met. Don’t be so obstinate! an obstinate refusal to obey2[only before noun] British English difficult to deal with or get rid of: obstinate stains a complex and obstinate issue—obstinately adverb—obstinacy noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINobstinate
Origin:
1300-1400 Latin past participle of obstinare ‘to be determined’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an obstinate refusal to face facts
- Ed is being obstinate again.
- How do you deal with an obstinate teenager who always says she isn't hungry?
- You know I'm right really. You're just being obstinate.
- A defendant can combat an obstinate refusal even to consider compromise by a shrewd payment into court, or a Calderbank offer.
- An obstinate fellow, if ever there was one, and a very elusive one too.
- Good advice you just have to give way to these obstinate creatures.
- Old dirt is obstinate and also begins to destroy the fibres if left.
- She had an obstinate chin, a cruel mouth and small arrogant eyes.
- The obstinate refusal of many males to support gun control is not chiefly a product of conditioning by the weapons industry.
- Those words of my New Hampshire neighbor seem to mock my trivial but obstinate frustration.
THESAURUS
refusing to change your mind, even when people think you are wrong or are being unreasonable: · Dave can be really stubborn once he’s made up his mind.· a stubborn old man
very stubborn, in way that is annoying and unreasonable: · I have never met anyone so obstinate.· his obstinate refusal to compromise
informal refusing to change your mind, even when people think that what you want to do is stupid: · I told her she was making a big mistake but she was too pig-headed to listen.· I wish you’d stop being so pig-headed!
very determined to do what you want, often without thinking about the results of your actions – used especially about young people: · As a girl, she had been lively and headstrong.· the headstrong impulsiveness of youth
British English (also willful American English) doing what you want, even after you have been told to stop, or when you know that it is wrong – used especially about children: · He was a spoiled and wilful child, who always got his own way.· She was passionate and wilful – exactly the sort of creature a man ought to avoid.
American English behaving in an unreasonable and often angry way, especially by doing the opposite of what people want you to do: · an ornery kid· Teenagers can be ornery and rude.
Longman Language Activatordetermined in a way that is annoying or silly someone who is stubborn refuses to change their mind about something, even when people think they are wrong or are being unreasonable: · I told him it was a bad idea, but Dave's so stubborn that he just never listens.· a stubborn old man
someone who is obstinate always does what they want and refuses to change their mind, even when this is annoying and unreasonable: · How do you deal with an obstinate teenager who always says she isn't hungry?· You know I'm right really. You're just being obstinate.
informal use this about someone who refuses to change their mind when you think that what they want to do is stupid: · He really was the most pig-headed man I've ever had the misfortune to meet.· Don't be so pig-headed! You can't possibly drive home after the amount you've had to drink.
someone who is headstrong is very independent and wants to do things in the way that they want, without listening to other people's advice or thinking about the results of their actions: · Leo's parents soon found that they were completely unable to control their headstrong son.· Suzie was headstrong, and sometimes thoughtless of other people's feelings.
British /willful American someone who is wilful , especially a child or young person, deliberately behaves badly by continuing to do what they want to do, even after they have been told to stop: · Billy is a very wilful little boy who's constantly being punished for not doing as he's told.· Sometimes kids who are described as difficult or wilful just need a little extra love and attention.
if you say that someone will not listen , you mean that they refuse to accept other people's helpful advice or opinions: · I've told him again and again what I think, but he won't listen.not listen to reason: · Wait until she calms down. She's far too upset at the moment to listen to reason.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY an obstinate refusal to obeyCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1determined not to change your ideas, behaviour, opinions etc, even when other people think you are being unreasonable SYN stubborn: an obstinate refusal to obey (=a refusal even when others think this is unreasonable)· Her stubborn refusal to admit the truth was trying his patience.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Ballater sensed obstinate refusal rather than a willingness to bargain.· The obstinate refusal of many males to support gun control is not chiefly a product of conditioning by the weapons industry.· A defendant can combat an obstinate refusal even to consider compromise by a shrewd payment into court, or a Calderbank offer.
He was the most obstinate man I’ve ever met. Don’t be so obstinate! an obstinate refusal to obey2[only before noun] British English difficult to deal with or get rid of: obstinate stains a complex and obstinate issue—obstinately adverb—obstinacy noun [uncountable]