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pigheaded

pigheaded

9 7.8
Refusing to change your mind or actions even when you are wrong
  • adjective
  • /ˈpɪɡˌhɛdɪd/
  • Offensive
translation icon : cabezota
  • She was too pigheaded to change her mind, even after hearing their arguments.
  • pigheaded and arrogant
  • just pigheaded
  • so pigheaded

I am stubborn, pigheaded, adamant as my dad would call me.

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Examples

Synonyms

stubborn
vspigheaded
217 2.9

Not willing to change your mind even when others try to persuade you

is the same refusal but with added sense of unreasonable foolishness
headstrong
vspigheaded
18 4.1

Someone who wants to do things their own way and refuses advice

is similar but stresses foolish, unreasonable refusal rather than mere will
obstinate
vspigheaded
16 7.5

Refusing to change your opinion or behavior even when others try to persuade you

adds a judgement of stupid obstinacy beyond mere refusal
intransigent
vspigheaded
8 8.1

Not willing to change views or agree with others

is less about principled refusal and more about being unreasonably foolish
wrongheaded
vspigheaded
6 8.0

Stubborn in keeping ideas that are wrong

is closer when the refusal is both wrong and also plainly foolish
hardheaded
vspigheaded
6 6.7

Refusing to change your mind even when shown evidence

adds an implied stupid or obstinate quality to that resistance
obdurate
vspigheaded
3 8.8

A person who refuses to change their opinion or behaviour even when others try to persuade them

carries more of an unreasonable and foolish connotation than mere firmness
bullheaded
vspigheaded
  • Offensive
3 7.4

Refusing to change your mind even when it is not a good idea

carries the same foolish refusal but with a cruder tone
stiff-necked
vspigheaded
1 8.1

Not willing to change your mind or actions

signals a harsher, more foolishly unreasonable refusal to change
unregenerate
vspigheaded
1 9.9

Refusing to change beliefs or show regret, even when wrong

adds personal foolishness and unreasonable pride to that refusal
pinheaded
vspigheaded
  • Offensive
1 8.0

Not willing to accept different ideas or change

is broader, meaning a more general, unreasonable and foolish refusal to change
bullet-headed
vspigheaded
  • Offensive
9.7

Being stubborn and not clever

is about unreasonable refusal combined with an idea of obstinate foolishness
hammer-headed
vspigheaded
  • Offensive
8.4

Not willing to change your mind even when others disagree

adds a stronger sense of personal foolishness to that unreasonable refusal
thran
vspigheaded
  • Archaic
9.9

Not willing to change your mind or what you do

adds a sense of pointless or obstinate foolishness to that fixed refusal
as stubborn as an anvil
vspigheaded
  • Informal
9.2

Refusing to change an opinion even when people give reasons

is similar but emphasizes unreasonable foolishness rather than sheer extremity
bloody-minded
vspigheaded
  • Offensive
9.1

Refuses to cooperate to cause trouble

is similar but focuses more on foolish refusal than spiteful obstruction

Antonyms

155 3.4

Able to change or be changed to fit different situations

80 3.7

Ready to listen to new ideas and accept different views

Compounds

1 8.5

A very stubborn decision not to change or listen to advice

How Stubborn

intransigent
8 8.1
pigheaded
  • Offensive
9 7.8
obstinate
16 7.5
stubborn
217 2.9
resistant
20 4.3

Surface Forms

pigheaded positive

Morphology

pigheaded = pig + headed (semi-transparent) = pig + headed

Formed from the compound pig + headed; the figurative meaning 'stubborn' is a metaphorical extension and not fully predictable from the literal components for all learners.

Etymology

Pigheaded comes from the simple picture of someone with a pig-like head — someone who will not move or change their mind. Think of pig + headed, like level-headed, and remember pigheaded means 'unreasonably stubborn' or refusing to change.