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verb

past tense of dog

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dogged distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of dogged are mulish, obstinate, pertinacious, and stubborn. While all these words mean "fixed and unyielding in course or purpose," dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence.

pursued the story with dogged perseverance

When is mulish a more appropriate choice than dogged?

The meanings of mulish and dogged largely overlap; however, mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.

a mulish determination to have his own way

In what contexts can obstinate take the place of dogged?

The words obstinate and dogged are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence.

an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories

When might pertinacious be a better fit than dogged?

While in some cases nearly identical to dogged, pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence.

a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer

When can stubborn be used instead of dogged?

The synonyms stubborn and dogged are sometimes interchangeable, but stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable.

a person too stubborn to admit error

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 dogged
Adjective
My Undesirable Friends details Putin’s chilling effect on Loktev’s subjects, and different individuals become the main character across the movie’s runtime, including journalist Ksenia Mironova, a sweet but dogged reporter whose fiancé, fellow journalist Ivan Safronov, has been imprisoned. Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025 Since then, the book has taken on a feeling of legacy, representing both a fitting memorial to Parker’s extraordinary journalism career and his dogged love for El Paso. Book Marks august 7, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Comparisons to Jackson have dogged Bieber since the start of his career given some similarities in their voices and the general boyishness that continues to define the latter. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Whether one or both of McDaniels and Campbell pass that test will offer a good harbinger of what’s to come from their offense, which should be dogged by iffy pass protection all season long. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dogged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogged
Adjective
  • Breaking barriers in ceramics But scaling up ceramic 3D printing has been a persistent roadblock.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Pollsters and analysts say the trend underscores persistent polarization and voter unease outside the president's core Republican base.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Inflation is stubborn, unemployment is rising and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has even confirmed that Gen Z grads just can’t get a break right now.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Clean With Vinegar And Dish Soap Dish soap cuts through grease and grime to make removing stubborn dirt easier.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In this state, space expands at a relentless, exponential pace, doubling in size in all three dimensions in just a tiny fraction of a second, and then doubling again and again and again with each subsequent fraction of a second that elapses.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Wedding Dashers features a maid of honor and best man forced to hurdle relentless transportation nightmares together to make it from London to Belfast in time for their dearests’ nuptials.
    Jamie Harrow, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss chased him and dragged him down from behind, landing on McCarthy’s ankle.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Free Cash Flow Fuels Dividends and Buybacks Veteran investors might remember past gold bull markets where companies, flush with cash, chased growth at any cost.
    Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For almost a year, the sheriff has been hounded by criticism from former employees.
    Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025
  • By the time Kendra’s lies were discovered, the family was being hounded by debt collectors and were in danger of losing their home.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • On the other hand, skeptics and cynics tend to be insistent right now that the clean-up activity is not going to last very long.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Many were half-baked at best and designed for clicks, comments and likes — the insistent demand of the internet age.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But while much of record labels’ promotional efforts have shifted to platforms including TikTok, Shinedown has remained adamant about the importance of terrestrial radio.
    Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In a 24/7 news cycle, Hemmer is adamant about balancing urgency with accuracy.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Saúl is a fixture at his father's bouts and already seems determined to follow in his father’s footsteps.
    Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Her flippers, each more than two feet long, scooped out sand and flung it to her sides in slow, determined strokes.
    M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dogged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogged. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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