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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Hart was substantive, tenacious and modest. —John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 Denver can’t consistently score against Minnesota’s tenacious defense. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026 The show follows a tenacious military vet (Kellyman) into Craw County, Alabama, in search of her estranged father (Bacon). —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026 These tenacious insects discreetly land on your skin, leaving sudden, itchy, and painful bites that can swell and turn red, ruining a perfectly pleasant outdoor evening. —Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 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
  • As a maker, these opposing qualities are persistent and present throughout every part of the process.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
  • New Gemini models and the ‘Spark’ persistent agent Google is locked in a tight race to dominate the AI market against ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Microsoft, with each company spending billions to get ahead.
    — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Definition of persistent
Adjective
  • The adhesive material also maintained stable performance after six months in storage.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
  • Besides proving out helium-3 extraction methods, another hurdle for Interlune’s Prospect Moon will be enduring the moon’s corrosive, adhesive lunar dust.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Definition of adhesive
Adjective
  • David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images Are Americans finally starting to feel the strain of soaring gas prices and stubborn inflation?
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 19 May 2026
  • Treasury yields have gone up in recent months as stubborn inflation reduces the likelihood of Fed rate cuts, Pisula notes, while geopolitical tensions add more long-term risk to rates.
    — Tim Maxwell, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Definition of stubborn
Adjective
  • Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
  • If a creature is small enough to swallow and not spiny or sticky or otherwise resists Yoshi's tongue, it will be turned into a green egg that's the series standard.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026
Definition of sticky
Adjective
  • Images of the shelter slipped the Russian choke hold to appear on the world’s screens—intact and unbowed amid the rubble, like a temple time-transported from some more ancient siege, the faces of those within drained but resolute.
    — James Verini, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
  • Many have affirmed their resolute support for Stewart despite any allegations.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
Definition of resolute
Adjective
  • Fukada — always measured and never insistent — invites us to observe Yuri and Yoriko observing each other, even though Yoriko seems to do the lion’s share of the looking.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
  • Again, the show is insistent on proclaiming Val’s greatness without putting in the work.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 May 2026
Definition of insistent

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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 21 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of tenacious for Spanish Speakers

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