stubborn
gb/stˈʌbɚn/ us/stˈʌbɚn/
B1
Inglês
~ 7200
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B1
property
1
very unwilling to change mind
Not wanting to change your mind or actions, even when other people think you should.
Padrão de uso:
[someone] is stubborn (about [something])
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use 'stubborn' when they mean 'determined' or 'strong-willed' in a positive way. 'Stubborn' is usually negative or critical, suggesting someone will not listen or change even when they should. Use 'determined' for a positive sense of not giving up.
Sinónimos
obstinate (Very similar meaning but slightly more formal and often stronger or more disapproving.)
|
headstrong (Emphasizes acting on one's own will, often ignoring advice; can sound more energetic and youthful than 'stubborn'.)
|
pigheaded (Informal and more strongly negative; often suggests foolishness as well as stubbornness.)
Antónimos
open-minded (Describes someone willing to consider new ideas, the opposite of refusing to change opinion.)
|
flexible (Emphasizes a willingness to change plans or behavior when needed.)
Colocações
stubborn child
|stubborn teenager
|stubborn refusal
|stubborn attitude
|too stubborn to [verb]
|stubbornly refuse
Temas
personality
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Exemplos
- He’s so stubborn that he won’t admit he’s wrong even with all the evidence in front of him.
- My grandmother is too stubborn to ask for help, even when she really needs it.
- They were stubborn about the price and refused to negotiate at all.
- She has a stubborn belief that success only comes from working long hours.
- The manager can be stubborn and ignores suggestions from the team.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- My little brother is very stubborn and never says sorry.
- She is too stubborn to change her mind about the job.
- He is stubborn and does not listen to other people.
- They are stubborn about money and will not spend it.
- I was stubborn and did not follow my teacher’s advice.
adjective
B2
property
2
very difficult to change or remove
Describes a thing, problem, or substance that is very hard to change or get rid of.
Padrão de uso:
a stubborn [problem / stain / obstacle]
Erro comum:
Learners may try to use 'hard' or 'strong' instead of 'stubborn' for things like 'stubborn stains'. While 'hard to remove' is correct, 'strong stain' is not natural. Use 'stubborn stain' or 'difficult stain' instead.
Sinónimos
persistent (Neutral; focuses on continuing to exist, without the criticism that 'stubborn' can imply.)
|
intractable (More formal; often used for serious problems that are very hard to solve.)
Antónimos
easily removable (Direct opposite in practical contexts, describing something that can be removed without much effort.)
|
manageable (Opposite in terms of difficulty; describes problems that can be handled without great trouble.)
Colocações
stubborn stain
|stubborn problem
|stubborn dirt
|stubborn weeds
|stubborn fat
|stubborn marks
Temas
daily_life
|problems
|work
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- This cleaner is strong enough to remove even the most stubborn stains.
- We’re facing a stubborn problem with the software that keeps causing crashes.
- The garden is full of stubborn weeds that keep coming back after we pull them out.
- He has been trying to lose that stubborn belly fat for years.
- The negotiations hit a stubborn obstacle over workers’ pay.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I used soap, but the coffee stain was stubborn.
- We have a stubborn problem with the car engine.
- These weeds are stubborn and grow back every week.
- The dirt on the floor is stubborn and hard to clean.
- This is a stubborn issue and not easy to fix.
adjective
B2
property
3
continuing despite efforts to stop
Used for bad things like pain, illness, or problems that stay for a long time and do not get better, even when you try to stop them.
Padrão de uso:
a stubborn [pain / cough / trend / fact]
Erro comum:
Learners may say 'strong cough' or 'strong pain' when they mean it does not go away. Use 'stubborn cough' or 'persistent pain' to show that the problem continues over time.
Sinónimos
chronic (Often used for long-lasting medical conditions; more technical and formal than 'stubborn'.)
|
lingering (Emphasizes that something stays longer than expected; slightly softer in tone than 'stubborn'.)
Antónimos
short-lived (Describes something that ends quickly, the opposite of continuing for a long time.)
|
temporary (Emphasizes that something will not last, opposite of long-lasting 'stubborn' conditions.)
Colocações
stubborn cough
|stubborn pain
|stubborn headache
|stubborn infection
|stubborn inflation
|stubborn unemployment
Temas
health
|economy
|problems
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- I’ve had a stubborn cough for weeks that just won’t go away.
- The patient is still suffering from stubborn shoulder pain despite treatment.
- The country is struggling with stubborn inflation that has lasted for years.
- A stubborn headache forced him to leave work early.
- The region faces stubborn unemployment even after several government programs.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I have a stubborn cough that will not stop.
- She feels a stubborn pain in her back every day.
- The city has stubborn problems with traffic.
- We still have stubborn high prices in the shops.
- His stubborn headache did not go away after medicine.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
stubborn
IPA
GB/stˈʌbɚn/
US/stˈʌbɚn/
Sílabas e acento
stub - born (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (stub)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: stubborn
Família de palavras
Core family
stubbornly
adverb B2
stubbornness
noun
Expressões
a stubborn streak
1/ə stˈʌbɚn stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
tendency to be stubborn
A part of a person’s character that makes them act stubborn in some situations.
Exemplos
- She’s usually easygoing, but she has a stubborn streak when it comes to her work.
- His stubborn streak caused a lot of fights in the family.
- You need a stubborn streak to keep going in this difficult job.
stubborn facts
1/stˈʌbɚn fˈækts/
fixed phrase
literary
facts that cannot be ignored
Facts that stay true and cannot be changed, even if people don’t like them or try to argue against them.
Exemplos
- In the end, we had to face the stubborn facts about the company’s finances.
- The report highlights some stubborn facts that the government would rather ignore.
- No matter what he said, the stubborn facts did not change.
as stubborn as a mule
1/ˈæz stˈʌbɚn ˈæz ə mjˈul/
idiom
extremely stubborn person
Very, very stubborn; not willing to change your mind at all.
Exemplos
- My father is as stubborn as a mule and never admits he’s wrong.
- She was as stubborn as a mule about the decision and refused to discuss it.
- Everyone says he’s as stubborn as a mule when it comes to money.
as stubborn as a mule
2/ˈæz stˈʌbɚn ˈæz ə mjˈul/
idiom
Extremely stubborn
To be very, very stubborn and not want to change your mind or your behavior.
Exemplos
- My grandfather is as stubborn as a mule when it comes to his old car.
- She’s as stubborn as a mule and refuses to apologize.