List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 266

SYNONYMS: obstinate, stubborn, headstrong, stiff-necked, bullheaded, pigheaded, mulish, dogged.
These adjectives are compared as they mean tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield.

Obstinate implies unreasonable rigidity, as in the face of argument, persuasion, entreaty, or attack: . He labored hard with the governor to obtain his assent, but he was obstinate.
Stubborn pertains to innate, often perverse resoluteness or unyieldingness: She was stubborn when her mind was made up.
One who is headstrong is stubbornly, often recklessly willful: The headstrong couple entered into a marriage doomed to failure. Stiff-necked implies stubbornness combined with arrogance or aloofness: The stiff-necked old Brahmin returned to Boston.
Bullheaded suggests foolish or irrational obstinacy, and pigheaded, stupid obstinacy: Don't be bullheaded; see a doctor. It's a pity pious folks are so pigheaded.
Mulish implies the obstinacy and intractability associated with a mule: Obstinate is no word for it, for she is mulish.
Dogged emphasizes stubborn perseverance: dogged persistence; He kept at it with dogged determination.