- Today's Word
Obdurate
OB-duh-rut
Definition
- (adjective) Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action; unyielding.
Example
Despite overwhelming evidence, he remained obdurate in his refusal to admit wrongdoing.
Fun Fact
“Obdurate” comes from the Latin obdurare, meaning “to harden.” The word was originally used in religious texts to describe those who resisted divine influence. Today, it describes anyone who refuses to budge—whether a defiant toddler, a determined activist, or an unyielding negotiator.
(adjective) Distant from the ordinary; elevated, refined, or thin (as in air at high altitudes).
The scientist’s rarefied theories fascinated her peers but left the public scratching their heads.
From Latin rarefacere, meaning “to make thin.”