Ob'du-rate or Ob-dū'rate1, a.
(117), a. [Lat. obduratus, p. p. of obdurare. See infra.] [See Note under CONTEMPLATE.]
Sense 1. Rendered hard; harsh; rugged; rough. “Obdurate consonants.” Swift. “Flexible as those now wrought in the stocking-loom, and of less obdurate materials.” W. Scott.
Sense 2. Hardened in feelings, especially against moral influences; stubbornly and unfeelingly wicked; incapable of repentance or remorse;—always in a bad sense. “Such obdurate jams.” E. B. Browning.
The custom of evil makes the heart obdurate against whatsoever instructions to the contrary. Hooker.
Synonyms—Hard; firm; unbending; inflexible; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; impenitent; callous; unfeeling; insensible; unsusceptible.—OBDURATE, CALLOUS, HARDENED. Callous denotes a deadening of the sensibilities; as, a callous conscience. Hardened implies a general and settled disregard for the claims of interest, duty, and sympathy: as, hardened in vice. Obdurate rises still higher, and implies an active resistance of the heart and will against the pleadings of compassion and humanity.
Fattened in vice, so callous and so gross, He sins and sees not, senseless of his loss. Dryden.
And now his heart Distends with pride, and hardening in his strength Glories. Milton.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart; He does not feel for man. Cowper.