Mulish
mediumNegative toneMYOO-lish
adjective
Definition
Resembling or characteristic of a mule; stubborn
Memory hook
Stubborn as a MULE — mulish means pig-headedly obstinate.
Examples
“His mulish refusal to compromise frustrated his colleagues.”
“The mulish child refused to eat her vegetables.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“His ______ refusal to compromise frustrated his colleagues.”
Show answer
mulish
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Mulish is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "obstinate" or "stubborn" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "compliant".
Related GRE Words
pigheaded
Stupidly obstinate
obstinate
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
refractory
Stubborn or unmanageable; resistant to treatment
intractable
difficult to manage, control, or solve
intransigent
Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or agree; uncompromising
recalcitrant
Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude
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