obdurate

What does “obdurate” mean?

adjective.stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

SAT Usage

this term often appears in contexts involving moral dilemmas, debates, or character analysis, emphasizing a person's unwillingness to reconsider their stance despite evidence or persuasion. It suggests a deeper level of rigidity and emotional coldness than similar words like "stubborn," which may not convey the same moral or ethical implications.

Common Confusions

Obdurate implies a moral rigidity and emotional coldness in refusing to change one's stance, while stubborn usually suggests a mere unwillingness to yield without the same ethical implications.

Example Sentences

• He remained obdurate even as the evidence against him mounted.

• Despite the evidence presented against him, he remained obdurate, unwilling to reconsider his stance or admit any wrongdoing in the situation.

Word Parts: How to Remember “obdurate”

Break “obdurate” into its parts: ob- (against, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ob- against, toward (Latin)