| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | rigid, tough |
| Synonyms: | aloof, crisp, distant, do or die, dug in, firm, formal, hard as nails, hard-line, hold one's ground, hold the fort, hold the line, incompliant, inelastic, inexorable, inflexible, intractable, locked in, obdurate, obstinate, relentless, reserved, resolute, set in stone, severe, single-minded, standing one's ground, standing pat, sticking to one's guns, stiff, strict, stubborn, uncompromising, unflexible, unrelenting, unswayable, unyielding, uptight |
| Antonyms: | bending, flexible, pliable, pliant, relaxed, soft |
| Main Entry: | balky |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | uncooperative |
| Synonyms: | averse, contrary, hesitant, immovable, indisposed, inflexible, intractable, loath, negative, negativistic, obstinate, ornery, perverse, reluctant, stubborn, unbending, unmanageable, unpredictable, unruly |
| Antonyms: | cooperative |
| Main Entry: | callous |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | cruel, insensitive |
| Synonyms: | apathetic, blind to, careless, case-hardened, cold, cold-blooded, deaf to, hard, hard-bitten, hard-boiled, hardened, hardhearted, heartless, impassive, impenitent, indifferent, indurated, inflexible, insensate, insensible, insensitive, insentient, inured, obdurate, soulless, spiritless, stiff, stony, stubborn, thick-skinned, torpid, tough, toughened, unaffected, unbending, uncaring, uncompassionate, unconcerned, unfeeling, unimpressionable, unresponsive, unsusceptible, unsympathetic |
| Notes: | callus is a hard patch of skin; callous is an adjective meaning 'indifferent to suffering' or 'hardened' |
| Antonyms: | compassionate, feeling, kind, nice, sensitive, sympathetic, tender |
| Main Entry: | decided |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | determined, strong-willed |
| Synonyms: | assertive, bent, certain, cocksure, decisive, deliberate, earnest, emphatic, established, firm, fixed, inflexible, intent, iron-jawed, mulish, positive, purposeful, resolute, resolved, serious, set, settled, strong-minded, sure, unbending, unfaltering, unhesitating, unwavering, unyielding |
| Notes: | decided means recognizable, marked, unmistakable or definite, while decisive means having the power to determine an outcome or being conclusive |
| Antonyms: | deferential, delaying, hesitant, postponing, procrastinating, undecided |
| Main Entry: | dogged |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | determined, persistent |
| Synonyms: | adamant, bullheaded, firm, hanging tough, hard-nosed, hardheaded, indefatigable, inexorable, inflexible, insistent, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, perseverant, perseverative, persevering, pertinacious, pigheaded, relentless, resolute, rigid, single-minded, staunch, steadfast, steady, stubborn, tenacious, tough nut, unbending, unflagging, unshakable, unyielding |
| Antonyms: | indifferent, irresolute, undetermined, yielding |
| Main Entry: | extreme |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | beyond reason and convention |
| Synonyms: | absolute, desperate, dire, downright, drastic, egregious, exaggerated, exceptional, excessive, extraordinary, extravagant, fabulous, fanatical, flagrant, gross, harsh, immoderate, improper, imprudent, inordinate, intemperate, irrational, nonsensical, out of proportion, out-and-out, outrageous, overkill, preposterous, rabid, radical, remarkable, rigid, severe, sheer, stern, strict, thorough, unbending, uncommon, uncompromising, unconventional, unreasonable, unseemly, unusual, utter, zealous |
| Antonyms: | mild, moderate |
| Main Entry: | firm |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | unalterable, definite |
| Synonyms: | abiding, adamant, bent, bound, consistent, constant, dead set on, determined, enduring, established, exact, explicit, fixed, flat, going, hang tough, inflexible, intent, never-failing, obdurate, persevering, persistent, prevailing, resolute, resolved, set, settled, specific, stable, stand pat, stated, staunch, steadfast, steady, stipulated, strict, strong, sure, tenacious, true, unbending, unchangeable, undeviating, unflinching, unqualified, unshakable, unshaken, unwavering, unyielding |
| Antonyms: | alterable, changeable, indefinite, irresolute |
| Main Entry: | fixed |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | intent, resolute; established |
| Synonyms: | abiding, agreed, arranged, certain, changeless, circumscribed, confirmed, decided, defined, definite, definitive, determinate, enduring, firm, in the bag, inalterable, inflexible, inveterate, level, limited, narrow, never-failing, planned, prearranged, precise, resolved, restricted, rigged, rooted, set, set-up, settled, stated, steadfast, steady, still, stipulated, sure, unbending, unblinking, unchangeable, undeviating, unfaltering, unflinching, unmodifiable, unmovable, unqualified, unwavering |
| Antonyms: | indefinite, irresolute, unestablished, unfixed, variable |
| Main Entry: | formal |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | stiff, affected, correct |
| Synonyms: | aloof, by the numbers, ceremonious, conventional, decorous, distant, exact, nominal, playing the game, polite, precise, prim, punctilious, reserved, seemly, sententious, starched, stilted, straight arrow, stuffy, unbending |
| Antonyms: | customary, informal, normal, relaxed, unaffected |