obstinacy

/ˈɒbstɪnəsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑːbstɪnəsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈäb-stə-nə-sē/ (ame, mw)

obstinacy — noun

1. the unreasonable habit of keeping the same opinion, decision, or way of acting e

1.名詞C2
釋義

the unreasonable habit of keeping the same opinion, decision, or way of acting even after other people explain why it should change.

例句

Zuri's obstinacy kept the whole family waiting outside the car for ten minutes.

someone's obstinacy + result clause

Despite clear weather warnings, Christopher's obstinacy sent the fishing boat back out to sea.

obstinacy causing a bad decision

同義詞
反義詞
  • flexibility

    willingness to change when circumstances require it

  • openness

    focuses on readiness to listen to other ideas

文法句型

someone's obstinacy

the obstinacy of [person/group]

obstinacy over [issue]

用法筆記

Almost always negative. Use it when someone keeps the same choice or attitude after good reasons to change have already been given.

常見錯誤

❌Her obstinacy helped her finish medical school.
✅Her determination helped her finish medical school.
💡obstinacy suggests unreasonable resistance, not admirable persistence.
❌His obstinacies upset the team.
✅His obstinacy upset the team.
💡this noun is usually uncountable when talking about a stubborn attitude.

2. the frustrating tendency of a problem, illness, stain, or other bad condition to

2.名詞C2
釋義

the frustrating tendency of a problem, illness, stain, or other bad condition to keep going and resist attempts to stop or remove it.

例句

The obstinacy of Shirin's cough worried the nurse after a month of medicine.

the obstinacy of [illness]

Hot water could not beat the obstinacy of the red wine stain on the rug.

obstinacy of [stain] despite treatment

同義詞
  • persistence

    more neutral; can describe something continuing without the negative tone

  • resistance

    more technical; often used for disease, dirt, or pressure

  • stubbornness

    possible in figurative phrasing, but usually used of people instead of conditions

文法句型

the obstinacy of [problem/condition]

obstinacy in [illness/stain]

用法筆記

This rare sense is mostly written, not spoken. The thing described as obstinate is the unwanted condition itself, not a person's attitude.

常見錯誤

❌The obstinacy of the exam question made the class angry.
✅The difficulty of the exam question made the class angry.
💡this sense is for conditions that resist removal or control, not for any hard task.