adamant
1 of 2adjective
adamant
2 of 2noun
George Eliot
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The Meaning and History of Adamant
A person who is adamant about something has formed an opinion or taken a position that is not going to change because the person is determined to keep that opinion or position. If you're adamant about a decision you've made, no one can convince you that it was a mistake. If you're adamant that something be done (or not be done), you insist that it be (or not be) so.
The adjective dates to the early 1800s but it comes from a much older—and now much less common—noun. An adamant is an imaginary stone of impenetrable hardness. Historically, the word applied to actual stones (and other substances) believed to be impenetrable; in the 17th century the word was used as a synonym of diamond. The noun adamant comes from a Latin word meaning "material of extreme hardness, diamond."
One side note: however adamant the Adams in your life tend to be, the name Adam is not related etymologically to the word adamant. Adam comes from the Hebrew word 'āḏām, meaning "human being."
Synonyms
Adjective
- 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
- stubborn
- unbending
- uncompromising
- unrelenting
- unyielding
- willful
- wilful
Example Sentences
Matt Ridley, Genome, 1999 Arrive to find child physically intact but … adamant that he will not remain another minute in Ski Bunny program. Despite their 'professionalism,' staff members eagerly concur. Christopher Buckley, New Yorker, 10 Mar. 1997 In the years following the First World War, the debts of our wartime allies and others came to be considered a serious burden on international commerce and well-being. Calvin Coolidge was adamant on repayment. John Kenneth Galbraith, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 1986 We've tried to talk him into coming with us, but he's adamant about staying here. remained adamant about getting the actor's autograph even after he had disappeared backstage Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2022 The Brooklyn neighborhoods that show low vaccination rates in young kids are linked to the Hasidic Jewish populations that have become increasingly adamant against vaccinations, experts say. Kyla Guilfoil, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2022 West appeared adamant when speaking about his unconventional in-store presentation and expressed his goal with the display method is to make shopping easier and more egalitarian. Thania Garcia, Variety, 18 Aug. 2022 Abrahamyan was adamant that injectors in the past have been deeply money driven and have altered people that do not need any alterations. Josh Wilson, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 Anschutz was adamant his power line would run through the Boeddeker ranch — triggering a clash of titans that illustrates perhaps the greatest obstacle to building enough renewable energy to survive the climate crisis. Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2022 Local officials are adamant that Delaware North continue to operate the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, citing the company as among the chief reasons why the resort has been so successful. Susan Glaser, cleveland, 22 Aug. 2022 Parents, in particular, were adamant that their sons had died in a heroic cause. Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2022 Still, the administration's public health officials were adamant on Thursday that localities are hopping on board, mentioning Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Fulton County, Georgia, as examples. Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Adjective
derivative of adamant entry 2
Noun
Middle English, "diamond, material of extreme hardness, lodestone," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin adamant-, adamās "material of extreme hardness, diamond," borrowed from Greek adamant-, adámas, probably a borrowing from a substratal or Near Eastern source, conformed by folk etymology to a- a- entry 2 and the stem of the verb dámnēmi "(I) tame, subdue, conquer"
Adjective
1816, in the meaning defined above
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
adamant
adjective
adamant
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- stubborn
- steadfast
- hardened
- obdurate
- intransigent
- determined
- obsessive
- obstinate
- hard
- implacable
- unyielding
- unbending
- opinionated
- uncompromising
- persistent
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- willful
- wilful
- adamantine
- unrelenting
- strict
- mulish
- inflexible
- immovable
- dogged
- pertinacious
- bullheaded
- pigheaded
- relentless
- hard-nosed
- pat
- perverse
- defiant
- tenacious
- inconvincible
- ossified
- resolved
- rigid
- self-willed
- iron
- stiff-necked
- unflinching
- self-opinionated
- stern
- inexorable
- wrongheaded
- severe
- contrary
- confirmed
- firm
- deaf to reason
- single-minded
- cantankerous
- uncooperative
- hell-bent
- wayward
- indomitable
- recalcitrant
- invincible
- bloody-minded
- demanding
- intractable
- disobedient
- hard-line
- hidebound
- mutinous
- contumacious
- unmanageable
- anal-retentive
- stouthearted
- inveterate
- unconquerable
- unruly
- insubordinate
- set
- narrow-minded
- cussed
- refractory
- exacting
- ungovernable
- froward
- hard-shelled
- insurgent
- hard-shell
- unregenerate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amenable
- flexible
- compliant
- agreeable
- complying
- acquiescent
- obedient
- docile
- pliable
- willing
- pliant
- receptive
- accepting
- submissive
- responsive
- relenting
- yielding
- reasonable
- tractable
- placable
- subservient
- persuadable
- slavish
- temperate
- manageable
- governable
Synonym Chooser
The words inflexible and obdurate are common synonyms of adamant. While all three words mean "unwilling to alter a predetermined course or purpose," adamant implies utter immovability in the face of all temptation or entreaty.
The words inflexible and adamant can be used in similar contexts, but inflexible implies rigid adherence or even slavish conformity to principle.
The words obdurate and adamant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obdurate stresses hardness of heart and insensitivity to appeals for mercy or the influence of divine grace.