Unnachgiebig

Unnachgiebig (German for “unyielding” or “uncompromising”) is a German adjective that describes a stance or attitude that refuses to concede or soften. It is used to characterize individuals, groups, or policies that insist on their terms in negotiations, moral debates, or political contexts.

Origin and formation: The word is formed from the negating prefix un- attached to nachgiebig, meaning “yielding,” which itself derives from nachgeben, “to yield.” The prefix un- gives the sense of non-yielding or rigid adherence to a position.

Usage: The term is commonly employed in political, legal, or literary contexts to describe a firm, sometimes inflexible position. Depending on context, unnachgiebig can carry negative connotations of stubbornness or, less commonly, be viewed as principled steadfastness or resolve.

Related terms: Unnachgiebigkeit is the noun form referring to the state or quality of being unyielding. Synonyms include unbeugsam and unerschütterlich; antonyms include nachgiebig and flexibel.

Notes: As with many evaluative terms, the connotation of unnachgiebig depends on perspective. In some contexts, it highlights resilience and consistency; in others, it signals obstruction to compromise and dialogue.