Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ADAMANTINE

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

connect this word to others: If you already know the word adamant, what's the use in knowing adamantine, too? Well, adamantine is rarer, more literary, and more dramatic. And it has an air of magic and mystery. Both words, plus the word diamond, come from the same Latin source. Literally speaking, adamant means "(like) a very hard stone," and adamantine means "made of very hard stone." And historically speaking, these words have been applied to steel, iron, diamonds, and magnets, which is why we apply them now to people who are hard, strong, rock-solid, and immovable in their thinking. Try to recall a few more synonyms of adamant and adamantine: 1. Something __ex__able is unaffected by prayer or begging; it's harsh, severe, merciless, and unstoppable. 2.  Someone __dur___ is stubborn in a mean way; even if you beg them or reason with them, they won't change. 3. Someone or something R_adamant___e shows harsh, inflexible judgment. This word comes from the name of a character in Greek myth who harshly judged the souls of those entering the underworld--and, based on its appearance and meaning, it might be related to adamantine.  (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "ADAMANTINE" Adamantine people and things seem to be as hard as stone or diamonds because they're so firm, strong, and solid that they can't be moved, changed, or defeated. Pronunciation: ADD uh MAN teen Part of speech: Adjective: "his adamantine resolve," "their mindset has grown adamantine." Other forms: None are common. How to use it:  Pick this word when you need to sound especially formal, dramatic, and literary, or when you need a tone that's a bit magical or mysterious. You might demonstrate an adamantine will, spirit, belief, or constancy; or hold an adamantine grip on something; or maintain an adamantine opinion or perspective, or deliver an adamantine reply or refusal, etc. Or, you might talk about adamantine rules, laws, chains, limitations, logic, facts, etc. As you've probably noticed, being adamantine can be good or bad, depending on the situation--and the point of view. One man's adamantine commitment is another's adamantine idiocy. examples: "She arrived in the United States from India in the early 1980s, armed with a jet-black braid that fell down her back, dreams of dental school and an adamantine sense of determination."    — Khushbu Shah, Washington Post, 24 January 2019 "All is now secure and fast; Not the gods can shake the Past; Flies-to the adamantine door Bolted down forevermore."    — Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The Past," May-Day and Other Pieces, 1867 (Above, Emerson might be alluding to Milton's Paradise Lost, in Book 2: some of the Gates of Hell are adamantine, too. So you see what I mean about this word having a literary, mystical flavor.) has this page helped you understand "adamantine"? Awesome, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know! If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. study it: Explain the meaning of "adamantine" without saying "rock-solid" or "obstinate." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Someone) is an adamantine (type of thinker, believer, or supporter) and regards (something) as (good, evil, wise, stupid, farfetched, or promising in some way)." Example: "He was an adamantine Capitalist, and regarded Trades Unions as the most pernicious of institutions."    — Ian Hay, A Safety Match, 1911 If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.) before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month: Anagrams! Rearrange the letters in the given word to form a word we've studied before. Try to recall its meaning, too.  For example, if I give you DYED, you give me EDDY. If I give you THREAD, you give me DEARTH. And if I give you COTERIES, you give me ESOTERIC. Try this one today: THOSE. Give yourself 5 points if you can figure out the word without clues. To reveal the clues, hover over the blue text below. Give yourself 4 points if you figure it out after peeking at the part of speech: Noun. Give yourself 3 points if you figure it out after peeking at the definition: a trustworthy reputation; or the specific character of a person, place, or time; or a set of values, beliefs, or morals. Give yourself 2 points if you figure it out after peeking at the first letter: E. Give yourself 1 point if you figure it out after peeking at the first two letters: ET. And if you'd like to reveal or review the word, click here. review this word: 1. One opposite of ADAMANTINE is A. WISE. B. SUGGESTIBLE. C. CONVENTIONAL. 2. Ellie Kemper plays the adamantine lady herself on _____. A. New Girl B. Grace Under Fire C. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 1. B 2. C a final word: I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.