adamant

1 of 2

adjective

ad·a·mant ˈa-də-mənt How to pronounce adamant (audio)

-ˌmant

: unshakable or insistent especially in maintaining a position or opinion : unyielding

an adamant insistence on doing things his own way

was adamant about making the change

adamant

2 of 2

noun

: a stone (such as a diamond) formerly believed to be of impenetrable hardness

: an unbreakable or extremely hard substance

"Trust not in your gold and silver, trust not in your high fortresses; for, though the walls were of iron, and the fortresses of adamant, the Most High shall put terror into your hearts and weakness into your councils …"

George Eliot

Did you know?

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."

Example Sentences

Adjective I am keen not to share my genetic code with my insurer, I am keen that my doctor should know it and use it, but I am adamant to the point of fanaticism that it is my decision.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But politicians and activists are adamant that is still occurring.

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

Etymology

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"

First Known Use

Adjective

1816, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

adamant

adjective

as in stubborn

sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion remained adamant about getting the actor's autograph even after he had disappeared backstage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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.

adamant that the work should continue

The words inflexible and adamant can be used in similar contexts, but inflexible implies rigid adherence or even slavish conformity to principle.

inflexible in their demands

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.

obdurate in his refusal to grant clemency

单词	adamant
释义	adamant 1 of 2 adjective ad·a·mant ˈa-də-mənt -ˌmant : unshakable or insistent especially in maintaining a position or opinion : unyielding an adamant insistence on doing things his own way was adamant about making the change adamant 2 of 2 noun 1 : a stone (such as a diamond) formerly believed to be of impenetrable hardness 2 : an unbreakable or extremely hard substance "Trust not in your gold and silver, trust not in your high fortresses; for, though the walls were of iron, and the fortresses of adamant, the Most High shall put terror into your hearts and weakness into your councils …" George Eliot Did you know? 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 See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective I am keen not to share my genetic code with my insurer, I am keen that my doctor should know it and use it, but I am adamant to the point of fanaticism that it is my decision. 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 Recent Examples on the Web Adjective But politicians and activists are adamant that is still occurring. 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 Etymology 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" First Known Use Adjective 1816, in the meaning defined above Noun 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition adamant adjective ad·a·mant ˈa-də-mənt : not giving in I tried to change her mind, but she was adamant. adamant adjective as in stubborn sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion remained adamant about getting the actor's autograph even after he had disappeared backstage Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance 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 See More 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. adamant that the work should continue The words inflexible and adamant can be used in similar contexts, but inflexible implies rigid adherence or even slavish conformity to principle. inflexible in their demands 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. obdurate in his refusal to grant clemency
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adamant

adjective

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser