Exploring the Meaning of Obdurate: Uncompromising Stubbornness
This video explores the word ‘obdurate’, which describes someone who is stubbornly refusing to change their opinion or course of action despite attempts to persuade them. We’ll discuss the meaning, origin, and usage of this powerful adjective, as well as provide examples to help you understand and apply it correctly.
Have you ever encountered someone so stubborn that no amount of persuasion could change their mind? Today, we’re exploring a word that takes stubbornness to the extreme: obdurate.
Word type: Obdurate is an adjective. It’s pronounced as OB-doo-rut or OB-dyoo-rut.
Meaning: Obdurate means stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action, despite attempts to persuade.
It describes someone who is hardened in feelings, resistant to persuasion, or unable to be moved by moral influences.
Word history: The word obdurate has its roots in Latin. It comes from the Latin word obduratus, which is the past participle of obdurare, meaning to harden.
This Latin word is formed from ob, meaning against, and durare, meaning to harden.
Antonyms: Some antonyms of obdurate include flexible, yielding, compliant, and amenable.
Synonyms: Synonyms for obdurate include stubborn, unyielding, inflexible, adamant, and intransigent.
Examples use in sentences:
Despite numerous pleas from his family, the obdurate old man refused to quit smoking. The judge remained obdurate in her decision, unmoved by the emotional appeals of the defendant.
The obdurate nature of the problem made it difficult for researchers to find a solution. Common errors in use:
One common error when using obdurate is confusing it with obstinate. While both words relate to stubbornness, obdurate implies a harder, more unrelenting form of stubbornness.
Another mistake is mispronouncing the word, often as ob-DUR-ate instead of OB-doo-rut. Understanding and correctly using words like obdurate can significantly boost your vocabulary for the GRE.
This word not only describes an unyielding attitude but also demonstrates a nuanced grasp of language.
Remember, in the context of the GRE, being obdurate in your study habits might just be the key to success, but always remain open to new learning strategies.
