adamantine
adjective
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The Greek and Latin word for the hardest imaginable substance, whether applied to a legendary stone or an actual substance, such as diamond, was adamas. Latin poets used the term figuratively for things lasting, firm, or unbending, and the adjective adamantinus was applied in similar contexts. The English noun adamant (meaning "an unbreakable or extremely hard substance") as well as the adjective adamant ("inflexible" or "unyielding") came from adamas. Adamantine, however—which has such figurative uses as "rigid," "firm," and "unyielding"—came from adamantinus. Adamas is also the source of diamond. Diamas, the Latin term for diamond, is an alteration of adamas.
Synonyms
- adamant
- 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
Claire Messud, Harper’s Magazine , 18 Jan. 2022 Davosites are defined by their adamantine belief in economic and social liberalism and their position at the top of various global organisations. The Economist, 16 Nov. 2019 Every year The Rock is pre-painted a different color to prepare an adamantine canvas. courant.com, 9 July 2019 Some of the time identity seems to be taken as an adamantine fact: a person’s identity as a woman or a member of an ethnic minority seems to trump all other considerations. The Economist, 19 June 2019 This gentle, tenacious, adamantine figure has been far too little known in the West—until now. Cynthia Haven, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2019 But not even adamantine willpower could overcome the exhaustion that Rihanna was feeling in that moment. Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, 3 May 2018 But Navalny, with adamantine determination and a canny use of social media, has spread his anti-corruption campaign deep into the provinces. Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2017 Harrison’s music traverses a huge stylistic range, from adamantine dissonance to melodies of homespun sweetness. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2017 See More Word History
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin adamantinus, borrowed from Greek adamántinos, derivative of adamant-, adámas adamant entry 2
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
adamantine
adjective
-ˌtīn -ˈmant-ᵊn adamantine
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- adamant
- stubborn
- steadfast
- hardened
- implacable
- obdurate
- immovable
- unyielding
- unbending
- obstinate
- mulish
- intransigent
- inflexible
- unrelenting
- uncompromising
- wilful
- pertinacious
- ossified
- hard
- willful
- hardheaded
- iron
- dogged
- obsessive
- opinionated
- headstrong
- persistent
- perverse
- bullheaded
- pat
- strict
- determined
- pigheaded
- relentless
- hard-nosed
- inexorable
- rigid
- unflinching
- inconvincible
- self-willed
- tenacious
- stiff-necked
- defiant
- stern
- severe
- self-opinionated
- resolved
- unconquerable
- deaf to reason
- wrongheaded
- invincible
- wayward
- indomitable
- firm
- intractable
- contumacious
- hidebound
- cantankerous
- recalcitrant
- contrary
- refractory
- unmanageable
- stouthearted
- single-minded
- ungovernable
- uncooperative
- bloody-minded
- inveterate
- hard-shelled
- mutinous
- disobedient
- unruly
- set
- confirmed
- hell-bent
- exacting
- anal-retentive
- cussed
- hard-line
- insubordinate
- froward
- hard-shell
- insurgent
- unregenerate
- demanding
- narrow-minded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- agreeable
- acquiescent
- flexible
- pliant
- pliable
- amenable
- compliant
- complying
- tractable
- yielding
- docile
- obedient
- placable
- submissive
- receptive
- accepting
- responsive
- willing
- reasonable
- relenting
- temperate
- slavish
- subservient
- persuadable
- manageable
- governable