French word

obstiner

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔpstine/

Meaning

  • verbinsist

Example

Il s'obstine à refuser l'aide.

He insists on refusing help.

Illustration for obstiner (insist)

More examples

Elle s'obstine dans son erreur.

She persists in her error.

Core concept

A person keeps pushing the same opinion or action forward despite advice, resistance, and clear facts.

Common phrases

  • s'obstiner à

    persist in ___

  • s'obstiner dans son erreur

    persist in one's error

Similar words

s'entêter: To stubbornly continue with the same way of thinking or behavior.
insister: To repeatedly and forcefully press an opinion or request.
tenir bon: To hold firm and keep going through difficult circumstances.

Definition in French

Persister fermement dans une opinion ou une action et refuser de changer malgré les conseils, l'opposition ou les faits.

Word origin

French obstiner comes from Latin obstinare, built from ob- 'against' and stare 'to stand', with the sense of standing firm developing into persistent refusal to change.

Usage tips

  • The common practical form is s'obstiner à + infinitive, as in s'obstiner à refuser, and it usually carries a negative sense.

Other meanings

  • persistverb
  • be stubbornverb

Opposites

Related words

  • obstinationstubbornnessnoun
  • obstinéstubbornadjective
  • obstinémentstubbornlyadverb

Word lists with this word