If you are tenacious, you are very determined and do not give up easily.
She is very tenacious and will work hard and long to achieve objectives.
He is regarded at the BBC as a tenacious and persistent interviewer.
Synonyms: stubborn, dogged, determined, persistent More Synonyms of tenacious
tenaciouslyadverb [usually ADVERB after verb]
In spite of his illness, he clung tenaciously to his job.
2. adjective
If you describe something such as an idea or belief as tenacious, you mean that it has a strong influence on people and is difficult to change or remove.
...a remarkably tenacious belief that was to dominate future theories of militarystrategy.
More Synonyms of tenacious
tenacious in British English
(tɪˈneɪʃəs)
adjective
1.
holding or grasping firmly; forceful
a tenacious grip
2.
retentive
a tenacious memory
3.
stubborn or persistent
a tenacious character
4.
holding together firmly; tough or cohesive
tenacious cement
5.
tending to stick or adhere
tenacious mud
Derived forms
tenaciously (teˈnaciously)
adverb
tenaciousness (teˈnaciousness) or tenacity (tɪˈnæsɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin tenāx, from tenēre to hold
tenacious in American English
(təˈneɪʃəs)
adjective
1.
holding firmly
a tenacious grip
2.
that retains well; retentive
a tenacious memory
3.
that holds together strongly; cohesive; tough
a tenacious wood
4.
that clings; adhesive; sticky
5.
persistent; stubborn
tenacious courage
Derived forms
tenaciously (teˈnaciously)
adverb
tenaciousness (teˈnaciousness)
noun
Word origin
L tenax (gen. tenacis) < tenere, to hold: see tenant
Examples of 'tenacious' in a sentence
tenacious
The most tenacious characters are female.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The actor himself had a similar brush with mortality and a similarly tenacious grip on life when an accident almost ended it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
His memory was tenacious, and he excelled in argument and repartee.
Christianity Today (2000)
He emerged as a tenacious interviewer, who was not in awe of anyone.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Has a reputation for being firm but fair, tough and tenacious but as she finds.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Both worked their way up through the ranks, both are energetic, stubborn and tenacious and both are enjoying an impossibly bright twilight to already distinguished careers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
tenacious
British English: tenacious ADJECTIVE
If you are tenacious, you are very determined and do not give up easily.
He is regarded as a tenacious and persistent interviewer.
American English: tenacious
Brazilian Portuguese: tenaz
Chinese: 执著的
European Spanish: tenaz
French: tenace
German: zäh
Italian: tenace
Japanese: 粘り強い
Korean: 고집이 센
European Portuguese: tenaz
Latin American Spanish: tenaz
1 (adjective)
Definition
stubborn or persistent
He is regarded as a persistent and tenacious interviewer.
Synonyms
stubborn
He is a stubborn character used to getting his own way.
dogged
determined
He is making a determined effort to regain lost ground.
persistent
He phoned again this morning – he's very persistent.
sure
firm
He held a firm belief in the afterlife.
adamant
She is adamant that she will not resign.
staunch
He's a staunch supporter of controls on government spending.
resolute
a decisive and resolute international leader
inflexible
They viewed him as stubborn, inflexible and dogmatic.
strong-willed
He is a very determined and strong-willed person.
steadfast
He remained steadfast in his belief that he had done the right thing.
unyielding
his unyielding attitude on this subject
obstinate
He is obstinate and determined and will not give up.
intransigent
The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent.
immovable
On one issue, however, she was immovable.
unswerving
obdurate
The administration have been obdurate defenders of the status quo.
stiff-necked
pertinacious
Opposites
wavering
,
changeable
,
vacillating
,
yielding
,
flexible
,
irresolute
2 (adjective)
Definition
stubborn or persistent
a tenacious belief
Synonyms
firm
They needed the firm guiding hand of a parental figure.
dogged
through sheer dogged determination
persistent
unyielding
He sat on the edge of an unyielding armchair.
unswerving
her unswerving belief in her father's innocence
3 (adjective)
He has a particularly tenacious grip on life.
Synonyms
strong
The government will take strong action against any further strikes.
firm
Use a firm platform or a sturdy ladder.
fast
He held the gate fast.
iron
a person of icy nerve and iron will
tight
Keep a tight grip on my hand.
clinging
forceful
This is a forceful argument for joining them.
immovable
It was declared unsafe because the support bars were immovable.
unshakeable
She had an unshakeable faith in human goodness.
4 (adjective)
her analytical mind and tenacious memory
Synonyms
retentive
good
photographic
a photographic memory
unforgetful
5 (adjective)
Definition
holding firmly
tenacious catarrh in the nasal passages and lungs
Synonyms
adhesive
adhesive tape
clinging
sticky
a weakness for rich meat dishes and sticky puddings
glutinous
He was covered in soft, glutinous mud.
gluey
mucilaginous
6 (adjective)
Definition
holding firmly
Synonyms
cohesive
strong
Eventually I felt strong enough to look at him.
tough
tough leather boots and trousers
solid
I stared up at the square, solid house.
coherent
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adamant
Definition
unshakable in determination or purpose
She is adamant that she will not resign.
Synonyms
determined,
firm,
fixed,
stiff,
rigid,
set,
relentless,
stubborn,
uncompromising,
insistent,
resolute,
inflexible,
unrelenting,
inexorable,
unyielding,
intransigent,
immovable,
unbending,
obdurate,
unshakable
in the sense of determined
Definition
firmly decided
He is making a determined effort to regain lost ground.
Synonyms
resolute,
firm,
dogged,
fixed,
constant,
bold,
intent,
persistent,
relentless,
stalwart,
persevering,
single-minded,
purposeful,
tenacious,
undaunted,
strong-willed,
steadfast,
unwavering,
immovable,
unflinching,
strong-minded
in the sense of dogged
Definition
obstinately determined
through sheer dogged determination
Synonyms
determined,
steady,
persistent,
stubborn,
firm,
staunch,
persevering,
resolute,
single-minded,
tenacious,
steadfast,
unyielding,
obstinate,
indefatigable,
immovable,
stiff-necked,
unshakable,
unflagging,
pertinacious
Nearby words of
tenacious
tempting
ten
tenable
tenacious
tenacity
tenancy
tenant
Synonyms of 'tenacious'
tenacious
Explore 'tenacious' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fast
Definition
firmly fixed, fastened, or shut
He held the gate fast.
Synonyms
fixed,
firm,
sound,
stuck,
secure,
tight,
jammed,
fortified,
fastened,
impregnable,
immovable
in the sense of forceful
Definition
effective
This is a forceful argument for joining them.
Synonyms
powerful,
strong,
convincing,
effective,
compelling,
persuasive,
weighty,
pithy,
cogent,
telling
in the sense of glutinous
Definition
gluelike in texture
He was covered in soft, glutinous mud.
Synonyms
sticky,
adhesive,
cohesive,
gooey,
viscous,
gummy,
gluey,
mucilaginous,
viscid
in the sense of immovable
Definition
unwilling to change one's opinions or beliefs
On one issue, however, she was immovable.
Synonyms
inflexible,
adamant,
resolute,
steadfast,
constant,
unyielding,
unwavering,
impassive,
obdurate,
unshakable,
unchangeable,
unshaken,
stony-hearted,
unimpressionable
in the sense of immovable
Definition
unable to be moved
It was declared unsafe because the support bars were immovable.
Synonyms
fixed,
set,
fast,
firm,
stuck,
secure,
rooted,
stable,
jammed,
stationary,
immutable,
unbudgeable
in the sense of inflexible
Definition
unwilling to be persuaded
They viewed him as stubborn, inflexible and dogmatic.
Synonyms
obstinate,
strict,
relentless,
firm,
fixed,
iron,
adamant,
rigorous,
stubborn,
stringent,
uncompromising,
resolute,
steely,
intractable,
inexorable,
implacable,
steadfast,
hard and fast,
unyielding,
immutable,
immovable,
unbending,
obdurate,
stiff-necked,
dyed-in-the-wool,
unchangeable,
brassbound,
set in your ways
in the sense of intransigent
Definition
refusing to change one's attitude
The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent.
Synonyms
uncompromising,
intractable,
tough,
stubborn,
hardline,
tenacious,
unyielding,
obstinate,
immovable,
unbending,
obdurate,
stiff-necked,
inflexible,
unbudgeable
in the sense of iron
Definition
very strong
a person of icy nerve and iron will
Synonyms
inflexible,
hard,
strong,
tough,
steel,
rigid,
adamant,
unconditional,
steely,
implacable,
indomitable,
unyielding,
immovable,
unbreakable,
unbending,
obdurate
in the sense of obdurate
Definition
not to be persuaded
The administration have been obdurate defenders of the status quo.
Synonyms
obstinate,
firm,
dogged,
determined,
fixed,
iron,
persistent,
relentless,
adamant,
stubborn,
intractable,
inflexible,
wilful,
unrelenting,
tenacious,
inexorable,
implacable,
steadfast,
unyielding,
intransigent,
immovable,
headstrong,
strong-minded,
unbending,
stiff-necked,
unshakeable or unshakable,
refractory,
pig-headed,
mulish,
contumacious (literary),
pertinacious,
indurate (rare),
proof against persuasion,
unimpressible
in the sense of obstinate
Definition
keeping stubbornly to a particular opinion or course of action
He is obstinate and determined and will not give up.
Synonyms
stubborn,
dogged,
determined,
persistent,
firm,
perverse,
intractable,
inflexible,
wilful,
tenacious,
recalcitrant,
steadfast,
unyielding,
opinionated,
intransigent,
immovable,
headstrong,
unmanageable,
cussed,
strong-minded,
unbending,
obdurate,
stiff-necked,
unshakable,
self-willed,
refractory,
pig-headed,
bull-headed,
mulish,
contumacious,
pertinacious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of persistent
Definition
showing persistence
He phoned again this morning – he's very persistent.
Synonyms
determined,
dogged,
fixed,
steady,
enduring,
stubborn,
persevering,
resolute,
tireless,
tenacious,
steadfast,
obstinate,
indefatigable,
immovable,
assiduous,
obdurate,
stiff-necked,
unflagging,
pertinacious
in the sense of pertinacious
Definition
stubbornly persistent
Synonyms
determined,
dogged,
persistent,
relentless,
stubborn,
perverse,
persevering,
resolute,
intractable,
inflexible,
wilful,
tenacious,
strong-willed,
unyielding,
obstinate,
headstrong,
obdurate,
stiff-necked,
self-willed,
pig-headed,
bull-headed,
mulish
in the sense of photographic
Definition
(of a person's memory) able to retain facts or appearances in precise detail
a photographic memory
Synonyms
accurate,
minute,
detailed,
exact,
precise,
faithful,
retentive
in the sense of resolute
Definition
firm in purpose or belief
a decisive and resolute international leader
Synonyms
determined,
set,
firm,
dogged,
fixed,
constant,
bold,
relentless,
stubborn,
stalwart,
staunch,
persevering,
inflexible,
purposeful,
tenacious,
undaunted,
strong-willed,
steadfast,
obstinate,
unwavering,
immovable,
unflinching,
unbending,
unshakable,
unshaken
in the sense of solid
Definition
firm, strong, or substantial
I stared up at the square, solid house.
Synonyms
strong,
stable,
sturdy,
sound,
substantial,
durable,
well-built,
well-constructed,
unshakable
in the sense of staunch
Definition
strong and loyal
He's a staunch supporter of controls on government spending.
Synonyms
loyal,
faithful,
stalwart,
sure,
strong,
firm,
sound,
true,
constant,
reliable,
stout,
resolute,
dependable,
trustworthy,
trusty,
steadfast,
true-blue,
immovable,
tried and true
in the sense of steadfast
Definition
dedicated and unwavering
He remained steadfast in his belief that he had done the right thing.
Synonyms
resolute,
firm,
fast,
fixed,
stable,
intent,
single-minded,
unwavering,
immovable,
unflinching,
unswerving,
unfaltering
in the sense of sticky
Definition
covered with a substance that sticks to other things
a weakness for rich meat dishes and sticky puddings