obstinate

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 2, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>obstinate</strong> &#149; \AHB-stuh-nut\&nbsp; &#149; <em>adjective</em><br /> <p><em>Obstinate</em> at its most basic means "stubborn." It describes people who refuse to change their behavior or ideas in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion, and it describes things that are not easily fixed, removed, or dealt with. </p> <p>// The project that had been the group's main focus for weeks was temporarily stymied by one <em>obstinate</em> member's refusal to compromise.</p> <p>// The planning committee discussed ways to mitigate the <em>obstinate</em> problem of <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrification">gentrification</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obstinate">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"... [Louise Bates] Ames has an uncanny way of capturing the essence of children at different developmental stages, and when you understand that it is your child's work to behave this way, that the behavior is serving growth and maturity, you are less likely to try to squash it. For instance, when you've nicely asked your 2-year-old to stop jumping on the couch and they look you in the eyes and keep jumping? It's helpful to know that this <em>obstinate</em> behavior is normal and is not a reason to double-down or punish your child. Instead, speak less, redirect and provide other things for your child to jump on." — Meghan Leahy, <em>The Washington Post</em>, 3 Aug. 2022</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>English has no shortage of words to describe stubbornness, and <em>obstinate</em> is one you might want to latch onto. It suggests an unreasonable persistence and is often used negatively to describe someone who is unwilling to change course or to give up a belief or plan. Animals can be ob