different between stubborn vs steadfast

English

Etymology

From Middle English stiborne, stibourne, stoburn, stoburne, styburne, stiborn. Origin uncertain.

One theory is that the origin may come from *stybor, *stibor, from Old English stybb (“a stump, stub”) + adj. formative -or as in Old English bitor, English bitter.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?st?b?n/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?st?b?n/
• Rhymes: -?b?(?)n
• Hyphenation: stub?born

Adjective

stubborn (comparative stubborner, superlative stubbornest)

1. Refusing to move or to change one's opinion; obstinate; firmly resisting; persistent in doing something.

2. Of materials: physically stiff and inflexible; not easily melted or worked.

Synonyms

• willful, headstrong, wayward, obstinate, obdurate, contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, undisciplined, adamant, unyielding, rebellious
• See also Thesaurus:obstinate, perseverant, persistent, enduring

Derived terms

• stubbornly
• stubbornness

Translations

Noun

stubborn (uncountable)

1. (informal) Stubbornness.
2. A disease of citrus trees characterized by stunted growth and misshapen fruit, caused by Spiroplasma citri.

Further reading

• stubborn in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• stubborn in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• stubborn at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Alternative forms

• stedfast (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English stedefast, from Old English stedefæst, from Proto-Germanic *stadifastuz, equivalent to stead (“place; spot; position”) +? fast (“firm; fixed”). Cognate with Middle Dutch stedevast (“steadfast”), Icelandic staðfastur (“steadfast”), Danish stedfast (“firmly attached, secured”), Danish stadfæste (“to confirm; ratify”), Norwegian Bokmål stadfeste (“confirm, ratify; establish”), Swedish stadfästa (“to confirm; establish”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?st?dfæst/

Adjective

steadfast (comparative steadfaster or more steadfast, superlative steadfastest or most steadfast)

1. Fixed or unchanging; steady.
2. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving.

Derived terms

• steadfastly
• steadfastness

Translations