wrong-headedness

wrong-headedness

A stubborn student displays wrong-headedness by refusing to correct a simple math error.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Stubborn adherence to an erroneous opinion or course of action: "wrong-headedness" refers to the quality of being obstinately and perversely mistaken in one's judgment or beliefs, often despite evidence to the contrary.
Usage Examples
  • (His stubbornly mistaken attitude blocked progress.)
  • (The failure was caused by his perverse refusal to change his erroneous view.)
  • (Her obstinate, incorrect belief caused harm.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to persist in wrong-headedness": to continue holding a mistaken view or pursuing a flawed course of action despite clear counter-evidence.

    • The politician persisted in his wrong-headedness, even after the data proved him wrong. (He stubbornly maintained his error.)

  • "a streak of wrong-headedness": a tendency or inclination toward being perversely mistaken.

    • She has a streak of wrong-headedness that makes her difficult to reason with. (She often stubbornly holds incorrect views.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Wrong-headed (adj): having or showing a stubbornly mistaken or perverse attitude.

    • His wrong-headed approach to the problem wasted valuable time. (His erroneous and obstinate method was unhelpful.)

  • Wrong-headedness (n): the state or quality described above (the exact target word).

Synonyms
  • Obstinacy: stubborn refusal to change one's opinion or course of action.
  • Perversity: a deliberate inclination to act contrary to what is reasonable or expected.
  • Erroneousness: the quality of being incorrect or mistaken.
Related Idioms

  • "to have a bee in one's bonnet": to be obsessed with a particular idea, often an erroneous or unreasonable one.

    • He has a bee in his bonnet about the new policy, showing typical wrong-headedness. (He is stubbornly fixated on a mistaken idea.)

  • "to be set in one's ways": to be unwilling to change one's habits or opinions, even when they are flawed.

    • Her wrong-headedness is partly due to being set in her ways. (Her stubbornness is rooted in inflexibility.)