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Stubborn as a Mule (Or Some Other Animal)
Most of us are familiar with the expression stubborn as a mule, which some feel is unfair to this hybrid animal. In fairness to the mule, let us look at some of the other animals that the English language has seen fit to equate with stubbornness over the years. John Wolcot wrote of being “as stubborn as a halter’d ram.” In the 19th century satirical work The Family of the Seisers, a character is described as being “as stubborn as a dog-fish.” And a character in Maria Edgeworth’s play Love and Law describes her own hair as “stubborn as a Presbyterian.” These curious phrases are, however, exceptional: the mule is by far the most commonly referenced animal when describing stubbornness. We have been using as stubborn as a mule since at least 1771, when the expression appears in Tobias Smollett’s The Expedition of Humphry Clinker.
Synonyms
- adamant
- adamantine
- bullheaded
- dogged
- hard
- hard-nosed
- hardened
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- immovable
- implacable
- inconvincible
- inflexible
- intransigent
- mulish
- obdurate
- obstinate
- opinionated
- ossified
- pat
- pertinacious
- perverse
- pigheaded
- self-opinionated
- self-willed
- stiff-necked
- unbending
- uncompromising
- unrelenting
- unyielding
- willful
- wilful
Examples of stubborn in a Sentence
Jason Elliot, Mirrors of the Unseen, 2006
To remove stubborn price tags from items like dishes and glassware, I use a cotton pad or Q-tip soaked with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol dissolves the sticky glue and doesn't mess up my manicure.
—Kathe Palmucci, Real Simple, April 2003
In the search for strategies to deal with the stubborn and deadly problem of driving under the influence, many cops are turning to an unusual tactic: Recruiting volunteer drinkers and drug users to teach officers to recognize impaired drivers.
—Russell Gold, Wall Street Journal, 29 Oct. 2002
She's wrong, but she's too stubborn to admit it.
I admire his stubborn refusal to quit.
trying to treat a stubborn infection
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
This powerful, palm-sized tool hits the town on stubborn breakouts with a potent blend of blue (415 nm) and red (630 nm) light therapies.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Nov. 2024
Here are some thought on how to approach those difficult but necessary discussions with a stubborn parent who refuses to plan for the future.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Their attack, led by Raphinha and Vinicius Junior, will be looking to break down a stubborn Uruguayan defense.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stubborn 
Dictionary Entries Near stubborn
Cite this Entry
“Stubborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stubborn. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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stubborn
adjective
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