adjective
stubborn
STUH-buhn
adjective
1
Refusing to change one’s mind, position, or behaviour despite pressure or good reason to.
"He’s too stubborn to admit he was wrong."
"The stubborn stain wouldn’t come out no matter how hard she scrubbed."
How to Use Stubborn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSet in one’s ways and unwilling to budge, whether about an opinion or a difficult problem.
Common pairings
stubborn as a mule
stubborn refusal
a stubborn stain
Word Forms
stubborner comparative, stubbornest superlative
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Etymology
From Middle English stiborne, of uncertain origin; possibly related to Old English stybb ("stump"), suggesting something as immovable as a tree stump.