resolute

adjective

Israelis and Palestinians held jittery but resolute hopes for peace

Syn:

determined, purposeful, resolved, adamant, single-minded, firm, unswerving, unwavering, steadfast, staunch, stalwart, unfaltering, unhesitating, persistent, indefatigable, tenacious, strong-willed, unshakable; stubborn, dogged, obstinate, obdurate, inflexible, intransigent, implacable, unyielding, unrelenting; spirited, brave, bold, courageous, plucky, indomitable; informal gutsy, spunky, feisty; formal pertinacious

Ant:

halfhearted

••

resolute, constant, decisive, determined, faithful, staunch

Any of the above adjectives might apply to you if you take a stand on something and stick to it, or show your loyalty to a person, country, or cause. If you show unswerving loyalty to someone or something you are tied to (as in marriage, friendship, etc.), you would be described as faithful (a faithful wife; a faithful Republican). Constant also implies a firm or steady attachment to someone or something, but with less emphasis on vows, pledges, and obligations; it is the opposite of fickleness rather than of unfaithfulness (my grandfather's constant confidant). To be described as staunch carries loyalty one step further, implying an unwillingness to be dissuaded or turned aside (a staunch friend who refused to believe the rumors that were circulating). To be called resolute means that you are both staunch and steadfast, but the emphasis here is on character and a firm adherence to your own goals and purposes rather than to those of others (resolute in insisting upon her right to be heard). Determined and decisive are less forceful words. You can be decisive in almost any situation, as long as you have a choice among alternatives and don't hesitate in taking a stand (decisive as always, she barely glanced at the menu before ordering). Determined, unlike resolute, suggests a stubborn will rather than a conscious adherence to goals or principles (he was determined to be home before the holidays).