3 syllables: Ob, dur, ate. Stress on Ob.
AHB-dyur-uht
/ˈɑbdjɚət/
Obdurate is pronounced AHB-dyur-uht (/ˈɑbdjɚət/). It has three syllables (Ob-dur-ate), with the stress on "Ob". Obdurate is an adjective describing someone who is stubbornly resistant to persuasion or softening in attitude or behavior. It conveys firm, unyielding obstinacy, often implying a lack of sympathy or flexibility in response to appeals or rational argument.
adjectiveObdurate is an adjective describing someone who is stubbornly resistant to persuasion or softening in attitude or behavior. It conveys firm, unyielding obstinacy, often implying a lack of sympathy or flexibility in response to appeals or rational argument.
How to Pronounce Obdurate
"Her obdurate refusal to compromise surprised everyone at the negotiating table."
"Despite the evidence, the council remained obdurate, clinging to its original plan."
"The defendant gave an obdurate response, insisting on innocence without acknowledgment of fault."
Pronounce as ob-DU-rate, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US ɒbˈdjuː.rət, UK ɒbˈdjuː.rət, AU ɒbˈdjuː.rət. Start with the 'ob' as in 'obvious', then the 'du' as 'dyu' (like 'dew' but shorter), and end with 'rate' like 'rut' with a light 'e' vowel. The 'u' in the second syllable is a strong, long sound, so you should feel your tongue raise towards the roof of your mouth for the /juː/ sequence. Listening to native speakers will reinforce the /ˈdjuː/ cluster.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress to ob-DUR-ate; correct is ob-DU-rate. 2) Slurring the /dj/ into a simple /d/ or /j/; ensure you pronounce the /dʒ/ sound as in 'due' + 'yuh' sequence /ˈdjuː/. 3) Shortening the final /ə/ to a schwa or dropping it; keep a light, unstressed final /ət/ rather than a full syllable.
In US and UK, the core is /ɒbˈdjuː.rət/ with /ˈdjuː/ for the second syllable; rhoticity affects only surrounding vowels, not the /r/ in non-rhotic UK where you may hear a weaker post-vocalic r in some speakers. Australian speakers often maintain /ɒbˈdjuː.rət/ with a clear /ɪə/ or /juː/ glide; vowel quality is slightly more centralized. Overall, the primary stress on -DU- is consistent across accents; the main differences lie in the realization of the /r/ and vowel length.
Two challenges: the /ˈdjuː/ sequence (d + ju) requires a smooth palatal glide from /d/ to /juː/, which some speakers separate into two sounds; practice by linking the /d/ and /juː/ with a quick, seamless transition. The final /ət/ is often reduced or misarticulated; ensure you end with a light, unstressed /ɪt/ or /ət/ rather than a heavy syllable. Finally, the initial /ɒ/ can be unfamiliar for non-British ears; aim for a rounded back vowel in non-rhotic accents.
No silent letters. The emphasis is on the second syllable: ob-DU-rate. The tricky part is the consonant cluster /bdj/ where you transition from /b/ to the palatal /dʒ/ quality of the /djuː/ sequence; you pronounce a single /dʒ/ glide sounding like /djuː/ rather than a hard /bd/. IPA guidance helps you pin this down.
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Obdurate comes from Middle English obstinate, from Old French obstiner, via Latin obduratus, meaning 'hardened, obstinate.' The root is durus 'hard,' from which English also derives durable, durability, and durance. The prefix ob- intensifies the base idea of hardening or resisting. The word entered English usage in the 14th–15th centuries, initially in legal and rhetorical contexts to describe stubborn resistance or hardened attitude. Over time, obdurate carried a moral coloring in biblical and classical literature, implying not merely stubbornness but a stoic or obstinate hardness of heart. In modern usage, it often conveys a moral judgement of stubbornness in the face of reason, sometimes with a sense of cruelty or callousness. The sense broadened to describe things non-human as well (obdurate material or policy), but the most frequent usage remains about a fixed, unpersuadable attitude in people. First known uses appear in early Middle English writings, with parallel appearances in Old French and Latin translations in medieval theological and legal texts. Through Shakespearean and 17th–18th century usages, obdurate became a common literary term for obstinacy that resists reform or mercy, persisting into contemporary prose and scholarly writing.”,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Obdurate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Obdurate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Obdurate"
-ate sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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