Definition

Noun: * Stubbornness; obstinacy: The quality of being unreasonably or perversely unyielding; a resolute and often foolish adherence to one's own ideas, opinions, or desires despite reason or persuasion.

Usage

"Pigheadedness" is a negative and informal noun used to describe an extreme, unreasonable form of stubbornness. It implies that the person is not just determined but foolishly so, refusing to listen to logic or good advice. It is stronger and more critical than words like "determination" or "persistence."

Examples

• His pigheadedness prevented the team from adopting a clearly better strategy.
• We couldn't overcome her pigheadedness on the issue, so the project failed.
• There's a difference between conviction and sheer pigheadedness.

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a connotation of intellectual inflexibility and is used to criticize behavior that is counterproductive.
• It can be used in both personal and professional contexts to describe frustratingly obstinate behavior.

Variants and Related Words

• Pigheaded (adjective): Having the quality of pigheadedness.
  • He is too pigheaded to admit he was wrong.
• Stubbornness (noun): A more neutral synonym for being determined not to change one's attitude or position.
• Obstinacy (noun): A formal synonym for stubbornness.

Synonyms

• Obstinacy
• Stubbornness
• Intransigence
• Bullheadedness (very similar informal synonym)
• Mulishness

Antonyms

• Flexibility
• Open-mindedness
• Reasonableness
• Compliance

Idioms and Phrases

• To be as stubborn as a mule: An idiom describing extreme stubbornness, similar in meaning to "pigheaded."
• To dig one's heels in: To refuse firmly to change one's plans or ideas.

Noun

1. resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires