obstinately
obstinately — adverb
1. describing how a person will not change their opinion or behaviour even when giv
describing how a person will not change their opinion or behaviour even when given good reasons to do so, acting unreasonably by holding on to their own position.
Bilal obstinately refused to wear a coat even though the temperature had dropped below zero.
collocation: obstinately refuse
The old fisherman obstinately insisted that the best fishing spot was around the northern bay.
collocation: obstinately insist
Naoko obstinately kept repeating the same argument long after everyone else had moved on.
It was clear the plan would fail, but Diego obstinately pushed ahead with it anyway.
- stubbornly
more common in everyday speech, same meaning
- pigheadedly
stronger negative tone, informal
- persistently
more neutral; does not carry the 'unreasonable' judgement
文法句型
obstinately + verb phrase
obstinately + adjective
用法筆記
Frequently paired with verbs of speech or action: 'refuse', 'insist', 'maintain', 'continue', or 'push ahead'. The unreasonableness is typically implied by the context — the person has been given good reasons to change but does not.
常見錯誤
2. used when describing something that continues to exist or happen, defying all ef
used when describing something that continues to exist or happen, defying all efforts to control, get rid of, or solve it — said of problems, illnesses, stains, or situations that resist treatment or effort.
The red wine stain remained obstinately visible on the white tablecloth after three washes.
obstinately + adjective: obstinately visible
Kenji's fever stayed obstinately high despite two rounds of antibiotics.
obstinately + adjective: obstinately high
Traffic crept along at an obstinately slow pace for the entire ten-kilometre stretch of roadworks.
The garden gate remained obstinately stuck no matter how much oil Felix sprayed into it.
- persistently
neutral register, no connotation of being unreasonable
- tenaciously
suggests gripping power, slightly more formal
文法句型
obstinately + adjective (describing a problem)
obstinately + verb of persistence
用法筆記
Commonly combines with adjectives that describe a persistent state: 'high' (fever), 'visible' (stain), 'slow' (speed), 'stuck' (object). The subject is typically a thing or situation, not a person.
常見錯誤
obstinately — adjective
- obstinatelypositive
- more obstinatelycomparative
- most obstinatelysuperlative
1. sticking firmly to your own opinion, plan, or way of behaving, and refusing to c
sticking firmly to your own opinion, plan, or way of behaving, and refusing to change it even when other people give good reasons or when it causes problems.
Amihan was an obstinate child who would not leave the playground without finishing her puzzle.
obstinate modifies noun (person)
The obstinate old man refused to let the doctor examine his injured wrist.
Tariro's obstinate silence during the meeting made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Even after failing the test twice, Jason's obstinate determination to become a pilot never faded.
- stubborn
more common in everyday English, same core meaning
- headstrong
emphasises doing what one wants regardless of advice
- unyielding
more formal, often used in writing
- intransigent
very formal, usually about political or organisational positions
文法句型
obstinate + noun (person)
be + obstinate
用法筆記
This sense applies to people and their attitudes. It carries a mildly negative judgement — the person is being unreasonable, not just firm. Compare 'determined', which is positive or neutral.
常見錯誤
2. very difficult to control, cure, remove, or overcome — used of a problem, illnes
very difficult to control, cure, remove, or overcome — used of a problem, illness, stain, or obstacle that continues to exist despite effort or treatment.
Doctors described the infection as an obstinate case that did not respond to standard antibiotics.
obstinate modifies noun (case of illness)
The council faced an obstinate shortage of affordable housing in the city centre.
Grass grew through every crack in the pavement — an obstinate weed that kept coming back.
Corruption remained an obstinate problem in the region despite years of reform efforts.
- stubborn
more common; works for things and people
- persistent
neutral register, no negative judgement
- intractable
very formal, common in academic or medical writing
- treatable
opposite for illnesses
- manageable
opposite for problems or situations
文法句型
obstinate + noun (problem, disease, stain)
用法筆記
This sense does NOT describe people. Use it for things: diseases, stains, weeds, economic problems, bureaucratic hurdles. Distinguish from Sense 1 (which is about a person's character) by checking whether the noun is a person or a thing.