tenacious

adjective

tə-ˈnā-shəs How to pronounce tenacious (audio)
Definition of tenaciousnext
1
as in persistent
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement a tenacious trainer, she adheres to her grueling swimming schedule no matter what

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adhesive
tending to adhere to objects upon contact you'll have a devil of a time getting those tenacious burrs off of your wool sweater

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tenacious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of tenacious are stalwart, stout, strong, sturdy, and tough. While all these words mean "showing power to resist or to endure," tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

When is it sensible to use stalwart instead of tenacious?

The words stalwart and tenacious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.

stalwart environmentalists

When might stout be a better fit than tenacious?

While in some cases nearly identical to tenacious, stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.

stout hiking boots

In what contexts can strong take the place of tenacious?

In some situations, the words strong and tenacious are roughly equivalent. However, strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.

strong arms
the defense has a strong case

When would sturdy be a good substitute for tenacious?

The meanings of sturdy and tenacious largely overlap; however, sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.

a sturdy table
people of sturdy independence

When is tough a more appropriate choice than tenacious?

Although the words tough and tenacious have much in common, tough implies great firmness and resiliency.

a tough political opponent

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 tenacious Silicone doesn’t break-down in water and adheres to pipe walls along with trapped hair to create particularly tenacious blockages, according to Gonzalez. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026 Hwang Jung-min, who leads the international cast, recommended Hoyeon for the role of a tenacious police officer. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 24 July 2026 Directed by their longtime collaborator Garth Jennings, the feature combines footage from their arena tour behind last year’s reunion album, More, with archival film tracing the band’s rise from tenacious Sheffield also-rans to Britpop darlings. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 Not really, but Hathaway brings forth a louder, tenacious side to the character that isn’t quite picked up in literary translations of the poem. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tenacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenacious
  1. persistent
  2. adhesive
  3. stubborn
  4. sticky
  5. resolute
  6. insistent
Adjective
  • In his inaugural Jackson Hole speech as chairman, Warsh warned that persistent inflation may necessitate further monetary tightening.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Mehta increased his price target on FANG stock to $220 from $212 and reiterated a buy rating, citing the company's capital-efficient volume growth as oil prices remain high amid persistent supply disruption in the Middle East.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of persistent
Adjective
  • This adhesive base allows the material to stick directly onto host surfaces.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Convincing urban commuters to trust their safety to an adhesive joint requires more than just theories though.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of adhesive
Adjective
  • Speaking in Jackson Hole, Wyoming late last week, Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh highlighted his worries about stubborn inflation .
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Knight set up Darby on a table and hit a springboard clothesline on the stubborn announce table.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of stubborn
Adjective
  • And with oil prices showing no sign of returning to pre-Iran war levels this year, pressure is increasing on the Fed to combat that sticky inflation by raising interest rates at its next policy-setting meeting in September.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The non-sticky finish adds a subtle shine, and nourishing ingredients like mango seed oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid keep lips feeling smooth and hydrated.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Should Alvarez remain resolute about Barca, Arsenal must determine whether to persist with their current attacking group or pivot to alternative targets.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Still, co-founder and CEO Adam Taubenfligel remains resolute.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of resolute
Adjective
  • But the Lower Basin has remained insistent on the Upper Basin states’ sharing in additional conservation measures.
    — Sarah Porter, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But by the time Isla was 15 months, Jacalyn had grown more insistent.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of insistent

Browse Nearby Words

tenable
tenacious
tenaciousness
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Cite this Entry

“Tenacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenacious. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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