ironbound

adjective

Definition of ironboundnext
as in insular

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ironbound His work ethic was ironbound, his creativity often chaotic, his studio on Bologna’s Via Gaibola a wunderkammer of sorts where the textile-nerd creative masterminded more brands than arguably any other designer. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ironbound
  1. insular
  2. stubborn
  3. obdurate
  4. obstinate
  5. parochial
  6. provincial
  7. unyielding
  8. wrongheaded
Adjective
  • The yearslong feud offers a rare window into the insular world of top-tier science labs, where directors wield outsized authority.
    — Chris Serres — Boston Globe, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Amid geopolitical uncertainty and the AI boom, executive leadership has had to become a much less insular affair.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of insular
Adjective
  • The Federal Reserve is also hiking rates again to rein in stubborn inflation.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Pair that with five years of stubborn inflation, and workers are losing even more ground.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of stubborn
Adjective
  • Possibly this was the case at élite law schools in the nineteen-nineties, where even the most obdurate deans could not afford to ignore their militant students indefinitely.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Iran, with its massive military capabilities, its oil wealth, its appetite for regional hegemony and its obdurate Islamism may have been the foremost obstacle to Israel’s integration into the region since 1979.
    — Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
Definition of obdurate
Adjective
  • And the Ithacan more than lives up to his reputation as the most obstinate hero in history, regularly taunting Poseidon (Miles Anderson) despite knowing the god will delay his return home.
    — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • When councilman Steve Novick threatened to sue, the Blazers recoiled and became obstinate.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of obstinate
Adjective
  • For Bourne, newspapers, besides giving information, encourage an acceptance of non-parochial views.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Our small island has arguably contributed more in terms of popular music than any other nation, but British driving songs are unavoidably parochial.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of parochial
Adjective
  • The provincial government said a committee had been formed to investigate the cause of the roof collapse of the three-story building.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In total, the deal will inject nearly 125 megawatts of extra clean electricity into the provincial grid.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of provincial
Adjective
  • In some obscure way, Shawn felt responsible for protecting the stranger against the slights of his unyielding countrymen.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • His unyielding tongue-in-cheek career narrative touches on craftsmanship, luxury and nihilism.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of unyielding
Adjective
  • Let’s revise our takes on some of these films from wrongheaded to the correct opinion.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter ordered Jean be killed, a decision that rubbed the artist as wrongheaded and would lead to his exit a few months later.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026
Definition of wrongheaded

Browse Nearby Words

iron
ironbound
ironclad
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Cite this Entry

“Ironbound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ironbound. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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