[ob.sti.nate] adj [ME, fr. L obstinatus, pp. of obstinare to be resolved, fr. ob- in the way + -stinare (akin to stare to stand)] (14c) 1: perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
2: not easily subdued, remedied, or removed "~ fever" -- ob.sti.nate.ly adv -- ob.sti.nate.ness n syn obstinate, dogged, stubborn, pertinacious, mulish mean fixed and unyielding in course or purpose. obstinate implies usu. an unreasonable persistence "an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories". dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence "pursued the story with dogged perseverance". stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable "a person too stubborn to admit error". pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence "a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer". mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy "a mulish determination to have his own way".