obdurate
/icons/point.icon INFLEXIBLE, OBDURATE, ADAMANT mean unwilling to alter a predetermined course or purpose.
INFLEXIBLE implies rigid adherence or even slavish conformity to principle.
e.g. inflexible in their demands
OBDURATE stresses hardness of heart and insensitivity to appeals for mercy or the influence of divine grace.
e.g. obdurate in his refusal to grant clemency
ADAMANT implies utter immovability in the face of all temptation or entreaty.
e.g. adamant that the work should continue
/icons/point.icon What is the difference between "obdurate" and "obstinate" ? "obdurate" vs "obstinate" ? | HiNative
Obdurate carries negative (pig-headed; unyielding) undertone.
Obstinate is positive (stubborn in a wilful way; headstrong).
adjective
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action:
｟かたく｠ 頑固［頑迷］な, 硬骨な(stubborn)
e.g. I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate.
DERIVATIVES
obduracy |ˈäbd(y)ərəsē| noun
obdurately |ˈäbd(y)ərətlē| adverb
obdurateness noun
ORIGIN
late Middle English (originally in the sense ‘hardened in sin, impenitent’): from Latin obduratus, past participle of obdurare, from ob- ‘in opposition’ + durare ‘harden’ (from durus ‘hard’).