Usage of the word "stubborn" on a thing rather than a person

The definition of the word, "stubborn", in dictionary.com goes

"unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving"

and in Longman Dictionary

" difficult to remove, deal with, or use "

Many of the examples these dictionaries provided are for describing a person that is hard to deal with. I wonder, can I say something is stubborn? If so, can I have some examples? If not, is there an adjective for saying something is hard to accomplish or uneasy to get rid of?

Solution 1:

Yes, inanimate objects can be stubborn. A mark left by grass or wine on clothing might be called a "stubborn stain," especially in an advertisement for a detergent claiming ability to wash away such a mark. This is exactly what is done in this ad from P&G (not an endorsement, merely an example usage).

As another example, consider a nut and bolt that have rusted together, and no amount of force on your wrench can make it move. Perhaps you might look for advice on the internet, on how to remove a "stubborn nut" (again, only an example, not an endorsement).

Solution 2:

To express a way to express something happens repeatedly, and that bothers you a lot, you can say "It's a drag.."Homework is a drag".

https://www.thoughtco.com/motivation-tips-for-students-1857576

Other options could be "slog" ("homework is a slog")... or "drudgery" ("homework is drudgery")...