Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ADAMANT

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explore the archives: Being adamant means being so firm and inflexible in your thinking that you're like a rock. A very close synonym is "ob______," meaning that you're so firm and inflexible that you've hardened into immobility. (And another close synonym is "obstinate," which describes people so firm in their thinking that it's like they're standing in one place, not moving.) make your point with... "ADAMANT" Adamant people or things are so firm and inflexible in their thinking that nobody can change them. In other words, to be adamant is to be, like a diamond, rigid and unchangeable in your opinions. Pronunciation: AD uh munt Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "adamant opposition." 2. After a linking verb, as in "Their opposition was adamant.") Other forms: Adamantly, adamance/adamancy. There's an alternate adjective, "adamantine," that means the same thing but has a slightly different tone. Check it out here. How to use it: You can be adamant about an idea, be adamant in your acceptance or refusal of something, be adamant (that) something is true, or be just plain adamant. You can also talk about adamant opinions, adamant opposition, adamant urging or adamant promises or adamant denials, someone's adamant insistence on something, their adamant adherence to the rules, and so on. examples: I don't see why they're so adamantly opposed to a policy that grants dignity to people who need it. I'm adamant about helping kids develop a love of reading. I've met too many adults who get no joy out of books. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "adamant" means when you can explain it without saying "unwavering" or "unshakable." try it out: Think of someone who always has to do something a certain way, and fill in the blanks: "No one can argue against (his/her) adamant insistence on _____." Example: "No one can argue against her adamant insistence on plating and presentation, even though it's just a family dinner." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. When it comes to word roots, everybody knows what some of them mean, like “ambi/amphi” (“both”) and “circum” (“around”) and “hetero” (“different”). This knowledge helps you explain why words like “automobile” and “autobiography” look similar—in this case, it’s because they both involve the concept of “self.” But what about some of the less obvious roots? Could you explain, for example, why “contain” looks so much like “sustain” by defining “tain”? This month, we're exploring the meanings underlying common words you know. You can usually figure these out by looking for an extremely basic concept common to all the words in each group. We’ll start with easier, more obvious roots and move on to trickier ones as the month goes on! Yesterday's question:  In append, depend, impending, pendant, pendulum, perpendicular, and propensity, what does “pend” mean? Answer: To hang. Try this one today: In aver, veracity, verify, and very, what does “ver” mean? review today's word: 1. The opposite of ADAMANT is A. DEPLORABLE B. MALLEABLE C. DEFENSIBLE 2.  Her suggestion met with adamant _____. A. surprise B. hesitation C. resistance Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C