Usage Note
Obstiner is almost always used reflexively as s'obstiner, meaning to stubbornly persist or dig one's heels in: s'obstiner à faire quelque chose (to insist on doing something). The adjective obstiné means stubborn, and the adverb obstinément means stubbornly.
Examples
"Il s'obstine à refuser notre aide."
Natural Translation
He keeps stubbornly refusing our help.
Literal Translation
He persists in refusing our help.

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