tenacious

adjective

te·na·cious tə-ˈnā-shəs How to pronounce tenacious (audio)

: not easily pulled apart : cohesive

a tenacious metal

: tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance

tenacious burs

: persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired

a tenacious advocate of civil rights

tenacious negotiators

: retentive

a tenacious memory

tenaciously adverb

tenaciousness noun

Did you know?

Tenacious Has Latin Roots

For the more than 400 years that tenacious has been a part of the English language, it has adhered closely to its Latin antecedent: tenax, an adjective meaning "tending to hold fast." Almost from the first, tenacious could suggest either literal adhesion or figurative stick-to-itiveness. Sandburs are tenacious, and so are athletes who don't let defeat get them down. We use tenacious of a good memory, too—one that has a better than average capacity to hold information. But you can also have too much of a good thing. The addition in Latin of the prefix per- ("thoroughly") to tenax led to the English word pertinacious, meaning "perversely persistent." You might use pertinacious for the likes of rumors and telemarketers, for example.

Example Sentences

But raw capitalism has also proved tenacious, evolving its own means of endlessly restimulating consumption …

Nicholas Fraser, Harper's, November 2003 This "Southern Operation" would seal off China from outside help, thus underwriting victory in Japan's frustrating four-year war against Chiang Kai-shek's feckless but tenacious Chinese army.

David M. Kennedy, Atlantic, March 1999 We have been nominally democratic for so long that we presume it is our natural condition rather than the product of persistent effort and tenacious responsibility.

Benjamin R. Barber, Harper's, November 1993 Some people claim that by election day this year François Mitterrand had very little power besides the power of his own tenacious, authoritative, and austere persona.

Jane Kramer, New Yorker, 30 May 1988 The company has a tenacious hold on the market. a tenacious trainer, she adheres to her grueling swimming schedule no matter what See More

Recent Examples on the Web Committed, tenacious, and creative, these 10 exceptional women make Greater Cincinnati a better place to live and work.

Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2022 When driving the two models back to back, the Performante's steering felt crisper and more accurate, and reactions are indeed keener and more tenacious.

Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2022 Still, the idea that people had been created in a single moment of miraculous divine intervention proved tenacious.

James Carroll, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2022 Both Balash and Davis mentioned West’s tenacious effort to keep the game in reach.

Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 Still, perhaps Miyake’s greatest contribution was the tenacious wearability of his clothes—indeed, the wearability of his ideas.

Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 Aug. 2022 This gripping series about Navarro College's cheer program in Corsicana, Texas follows the story of tenacious athletes defending a winning legacy.

Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 30 July 2022 Yet they are locked in such a tenacious battle for market share that growth trumps all other considerations.

Jem Aswad, Variety, 28 July 2022 The maize-and-blue exterior of the car represents the university and, while small, Aevum is the team's smartest and most tenacious car yet, the news release said.

Layla Mcmurtrie, Detroit Free Press, 22 July 2022 See More

单词	tenaciousness
释义	tenacious adjective te·na·cious tə-ˈnā-shəs 1 a : not easily pulled apart : cohesive a tenacious metal b : tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance tenacious burs 2 a : persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired a tenacious advocate of civil rights tenacious negotiators b : retentive a tenacious memory tenaciously adverb tenaciousness noun Did you know? Tenacious Has Latin Roots For the more than 400 years that tenacious has been a part of the English language, it has adhered closely to its Latin antecedent: tenax, an adjective meaning "tending to hold fast." Almost from the first, tenacious could suggest either literal adhesion or figurative stick-to-itiveness. Sandburs are tenacious, and so are athletes who don't let defeat get them down. We use tenacious of a good memory, too—one that has a better than average capacity to hold information. But you can also have too much of a good thing. The addition in Latin of the prefix per- ("thoroughly") to tenax led to the English word pertinacious, meaning "perversely persistent." You might use pertinacious for the likes of rumors and telemarketers, for example. Synonyms dogged insistent patient persevering persistent pertinacious See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences But raw capitalism has also proved tenacious, evolving its own means of endlessly restimulating consumption … Nicholas Fraser, Harper's, November 2003 This "Southern Operation" would seal off China from outside help, thus underwriting victory in Japan's frustrating four-year war against Chiang Kai-shek's feckless but tenacious Chinese army. David M. Kennedy, Atlantic, March 1999 We have been nominally democratic for so long that we presume it is our natural condition rather than the product of persistent effort and tenacious responsibility. Benjamin R. Barber, Harper's, November 1993 Some people claim that by election day this year François Mitterrand had very little power besides the power of his own tenacious, authoritative, and austere persona. Jane Kramer, New Yorker, 30 May 1988 The company has a tenacious hold on the market. a tenacious trainer, she adheres to her grueling swimming schedule no matter what See More Recent Examples on the Web Committed, tenacious, and creative, these 10 exceptional women make Greater Cincinnati a better place to live and work. Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2022 When driving the two models back to back, the Performante's steering felt crisper and more accurate, and reactions are indeed keener and more tenacious. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2022 Still, the idea that people had been created in a single moment of miraculous divine intervention proved tenacious. James Carroll, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2022 Both Balash and Davis mentioned West’s tenacious effort to keep the game in reach. Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 Still, perhaps Miyake’s greatest contribution was the tenacious wearability of his clothes—indeed, the wearability of his ideas. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 Aug. 2022 This gripping series about Navarro College's cheer program in Corsicana, Texas follows the story of tenacious athletes defending a winning legacy. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 30 July 2022 Yet they are locked in such a tenacious battle for market share that growth trumps all other considerations. Jem Aswad, Variety, 28 July 2022 The maize-and-blue exterior of the car represents the university and, while small, Aevum is the team's smartest and most tenacious car yet, the news release said. Layla Mcmurtrie, Detroit Free Press, 22 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin tenāc-, tenāx "holding fast, clinging, persistent" (from tenēre "to hold, occupy, possess" + -āc-, deverbal suffix denoting habitual or successful performance) + -ious — more at tenant entry 1, audacious First Known Use 1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition tenacious adjective te·na·cious tə-ˈnā-shəs 1 : persistent a tenacious fighter 2 : not easily pulled apart Medical Definition tenacious adjective te·na·cious tə-ˈnā-shəs : tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance : viscous coughed up 150 cc. of thick tenacious sputum Journal of the American Medical Association tenaciousness noun as in stamina ability or willingness to carry on despite danger, difficulty, or obstacle Only those with supreme tenaciousness will be able to complete this epic trek through an unforgiving landscape. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance stamina endurance tenacity determination persistence perseverance courage persistency prowess bravery courageousness fortitude doggedness heroism grit gumption stomach resolution boldness spunk mettle valor heart audacity pluckiness fearlessness backbone pluck fiber temper temerity gallantry effrontery stoutness daring gall brazenness intrepidity virtue intrepidness cojones gutsiness hardihood dauntlessness moxie daringness nerve guts cheek pecker bottle greatheartedness intestinal fortitude doughtiness Antonyms & Near Antonyms hesitation indecisiveness indecision timidity irresolution fearfulness softness weakness feebleness timorousness faintheartedness impotence cold feet ineffectualness mousiness See More
随便看	sinoventricular system sins sinsemilla sinsemillas sinsiang sinsring sinsyne sint maarten Sint-Niklaas sinter sinterabilities sinterability sintered sintering sinters Sintra sinu- sinuate sinuate-dentate sinuated sinuater sinuates sinuatest sinuating sinuation

tenacious

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

noun