obstinacy
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
the quality of being unreasonably determined to do something or hold a particular opinion, despite attempts to persuade or reason otherwise.
The state or quality of being stubbornly unyielding or tenacious; dogged persistence that can be viewed either as a vice (foolish rigidity) or a virtue (admirable resolve).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Obstinacy often implies a negative, uncooperative, or irrational kind of stubbornness. It is more formal and carries a stronger negative charge than 'stubbornness'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences in usage.
Connotations
Slightly stronger negative connotation in British English; can occasionally have a neutral or even slightly positive sense in American English when describing political or principled resistance.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English, where 'obstinacy' and 'obstinate' are commonly used. In American English, 'stubbornness' is more frequent in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
obstinacy of + NOUN (the obstinacy of the child)obstinacy in + VERB-ing (obstinacy in refusing)obstinacy on + issue (obstinacy on this point)due to/out of/through obstinacyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dig one's heels in (a behavioural idiom for obstinacy)”
- “As stubborn as a mule”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used negatively to criticise a counterparty's or colleague's refusal to negotiate or adapt. 'The deal fell through due to the board's sheer obstinacy.'
Academic
Used in psychology, history, or political science to describe a trait or a strategic stance. 'The king's obstinacy in the face of parliamentary reform led to crisis.'
Everyday
Used to describe a person's frustratingly stubborn behaviour, often of a child or a family member. 'His obstinacy about not wearing a coat in the rain is infuriating.'
Technical
Rare. Might appear in behavioural sciences or engineering metaphorically (e.g., 'the system's obstinacy to reset').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He obstinatedly refused to queue.
- She was obstinating over the trivial matter.
American English
- He obstinately refused to get in line.
- She was being obstinate about the trivial issue.
adverb
British English
- He obstinately insisted he was right.
- The door remained obstinately shut.
American English
- He obstinately insisted he was right.
- The door remained obstinately closed.
adjective
British English
- He was being terribly obstinate about the holiday plans.
- An obstinate refusal to admit fault.
American English
- He was being really obstinate about the vacation plans.
- An obstinate refusal to admit fault.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His obstinacy made the teacher angry.
- Sometimes obstinacy is not a good thing.
- The negotiations failed because of the minister's sheer obstinacy.
- Her obstinacy in defending an outdated policy puzzled her colleagues.
- The committee's progress was hamstrung by the chairman's bureaucratic obstinacy.
- What began as principled resistance gradually decayed into mere obstinacy, alienating his allies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of OBSTINACY as OB-STAY-IN-ACY: Someone who is OBstinate will STAY IN their position no matter what. They're 'obstuck' in their ways.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTINACY IS A SOLID, IMMOVABLE OBJECT (e.g., a wall, a rock, a mule). OBSTINACY IS A DISEASE (e.g., a chronic condition).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'упрямство' which is a perfect match. Do not use 'настойчивость' (persistence), which is more positive. 'Своенравие' is more about capriciousness, not obstinacy.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronunciation: /ob-STIN-acy/ instead of /OB-stin-acy/.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an obstinacy'). It is uncountable.
- Confusing with 'obstacle'.
- Using in overly informal contexts where 'stubbornness' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'obstinacy' most likely to be used with a slightly positive connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, as it implies unreasonable stubbornness. However, in contexts like standing up for principles against pressure, it can be viewed more neutrally or even positively as 'steadfastness'.
'Persistence' is generally positive, meaning continuing despite difficulty. 'Obstinacy' is negative, meaning refusing to change one's mind or course of action despite good reasons or persuasion.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically. E.g., 'the obstinacy of the rusted bolt' or 'the obstinacy of the problem'.
Yes, in both British and American English, the adjective 'obstinate' is more frequently used in everyday language than the noun 'obstinacy'.