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Thursday, July 2, 2026
Word of the Day

obdurate

adjective

Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action; unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings. Hard-hearted and unyielding.

Intermediate - Known to most educated speakers

Etymology

From Latin "obduratus," past participle of "obdurare" (to harden), from "ob" (against) + "durare" (to harden), from "durus" (hard).

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "The obdurate dictator refused all pleas for reform."

  • 2.

    "Despite the evidence, he remained obdurate in his beliefs."

  • 3.

    "Her obdurate stance on the issue frustrated negotiators."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

stubbornunyieldinginflexibleintransigent

Related Words

hardenedimmovableadamantmulish

Fun Fact

In Dante's Inferno, obdurate sinners occupy the lowest circles of Hell. Their inability to change or repent even when faced with consequences represented the ultimate spiritual failure.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 8 letters (O, B, D, U, R, A, T, E)

Scrabble Value: 11 points

Tip: Look for common letter combinations like "OB" at the start of words.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

Ready to find words like "obdurate" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!