Meaning & use
obstinate in
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
refusing to change your opinion or behavior about a particular thing.
Grammar: Followed by a noun or an -ing form: 'obstinate in his refusal', 'obstinate in refusing'.
Patterns
- obstinate in something
- obstinate in doing something
She was obstinate in her refusal to apologize.
He remained obstinate in his belief that he was right.
They were obstinate in insisting on the original plan.
Common combinations
- obstinate in one's refusal
- He was obstinate in his refusal to listen.
- obstinate in one's belief
- She stayed obstinate in her belief that nothing would change.
- obstinate in insisting
- The manager was obstinate in insisting on the old rules.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stubborn about
- Stubborn about is more common in everyday speech; obstinate in sounds more formal and is often used with refusal or belief.
- adamant about
- Adamant about means you will not change your mind, but it does not suggest the unreasonable quality that obstinate often carries.
Opposites
Word family
- obstinacy noun
- the quality of being obstinate.
- obstinately adverb
- in an obstinate way.
Commonly confused: obstinate in or obstinate to?
obstinate in vs obstinate to
This is not correct English. Use 'obstinate in' + noun/-ing, or 'obstinate about' + noun.
Practice
Complete the sentence: 'He was obstinate ___ refusing to change his mind.'
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'obstinate in' + -ing form. 'Obstinate to' is not used, and 'for' or 'with' do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “obstinate in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.