Obdurate
Word of the Day
What is Obdurate?
adjective
Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to illustrate the strength and peril of unyielding will.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
He remained obdurate in his refusal to apologize.
The dictator was obdurate in clinging to power.
She was obdurate about her principles.
Word Origins
Latin obduratus “hardened”
From durare “to harden, endure.”
First appearance in English: 15th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
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Noun:
His obduracy made compromise impossible.
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Adjective:
The stubborn child refused to eat.
-
Adjective:
Her unyielding resolve impressed them.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: obstinado
- French: obstiné
- German: hartnäckig
- Italian: ostinato
- Portuguese: obstinado
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Obstinate
Close, but obdurate implies moral coldness.
Inflexible
Practical resistance; obdurate is moral/emotional.
Adamant
Adamant is firm but not necessarily cold; obdurate is hardened.
Fun Facts
- Obdurate is less common today but survives in legal and literary contexts.
- Shares root with “durable” and “endure.”
Cultural Usage
- Milton used “obdurate” to describe Satan’s hardened heart.
- Obdurate parties in lawsuits may be penalized.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes confused with “obstinate”; obdurate implies moral hardness.
Micro Story
The judge remained obdurate despite the prisoner’s plea.