Word a Day
obstinate
What does obstinate mean?
obstinate (adjective): stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce obstinate?
/ˈɑbstənət/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does obstinate come from?
Inherited from Middle English obstinat(e) (“obstinate, stubborn”), from Latin obstinātus, perfect passive participle of obstinō (“set one's mind firmly upon, resolve”), from ob (“before”) + *stinare, from stare (“to stand”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What are synonyms of obstinate?
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “obstinate”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “obstinate” mean?
tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having in reality no value or substance; falsely alluring
Not quite: that's what meretricious means.
breaching the established standards of conduct or behavior within a particular organization or profession
Not quite: that's what unethical means.
idiotic or unthinkable, often to the point of being funny; amusing by being plainly incongruous or absurd
Not quite: that's what ludicrous means.
stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent
Right! That's what “obstinate” means.
Which word is closest in meaning to “obstinate”?
dominant
Not quite: dominant means something else.
stubborn
Right!
handsome
Not quite: handsome means something else.
imperial
Not quite: imperial means something else.
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