obdurate

UK: /ˈɒbdjʊrət/ US: /ˈɑbdʊrɪt, -djʊ-/ ,(ob′dŏŏ rit, -dyŏŏ-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•du•rate /ˈɑbdʊrɪt, -dyʊ-/   adj. 

1. not moved by persuasion or pity;
   not giving in;
   unyielding:
   an obdurate opponent.

ob•du•rate•ness, n. [uncountable] See -dur-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•du•rate  (ob′dŏŏ rit, -dyŏŏ-), adj. 

1. unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings;
   stubborn;
   unyielding.
2. stubbornly resistant to moral influence;
   persistently impenitent:
   an obdurate sinner.

• Latin obdūrātus (past participle of obdūrāre to harden), equivalent. to ob- ob- + dūr(us) hard + -ātus -ate¹
• late Middle English obdurat 1400–50

ob′du•rate•ly, adv. 
ob′du•rate•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. hard, obstinate, callous, unbending, inflexible.
• 2. unregenerate, reprobate, shameless.

Antonyms

• 1. soft, tractable.
• 2. humble, repentant.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

obdurate / ˈɒbdjʊrɪt/ adjective

1. not easily moved by feelings or supplication; hardhearted
2. impervious to persuasion, esp to moral persuasion

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin obdūrāre to make hard, from ob- (intensive) + dūrus hard; compare endure

ˈobduracy, ˈobdurateness noun

ˈobdurately adverb