dogged
adjective
dog·ged ˈdȯ-gəd 
: marked by stubborn determination
a dogged competitor
dogged devotion
doggedly adverb
doggedness noun
Synonyms
- insistent
- patient
- persevering
- persistent
- pertinacious
- tenacious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Her dogged efforts eventually paid off. a dogged pursuit of power
Recent Examples on the Web Schwartz returned to practice Sunday after the off day with a dogged determination to put the bad game behind him and come back strong. 
Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 16 Aug. 2022 All of these solutions rest on a dogged determination to misdiagnose the problem. Peter Greene, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Ambitious travelers tend to attack even sightseeing with dogged diligence and intensity. Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Prosecutors and judges recalled her compassion, while still serving as a dogged fighter with an uncanny memory. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 The celebration was to honor Harila’s recent ascent of 27,766-foot Makalu, and her dogged pursuit of the speed record for climbing the 14 mountains that stand above 8,000 meters. Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 9 Aug. 2022 In particular, James is such a one-dimensional good-for-nothing that his dogged pursuit of Mully and Joy adds limited dramatic interest. Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 July 2022 Morgan Freeman is the dogged FBI agent on her trail. Michael O'sullivan, Washington Post, 28 July 2022 Much like his buddy Cody Johnson, Jinks built his brand through relentless touring, solid songwriting with old-school roots and a dogged independence. Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 July 2022 See More
Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 16 Aug. 2022 All of these solutions rest on a dogged determination to misdiagnose the problem. Peter Greene, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Ambitious travelers tend to attack even sightseeing with dogged diligence and intensity. Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Prosecutors and judges recalled her compassion, while still serving as a dogged fighter with an uncanny memory. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 The celebration was to honor Harila’s recent ascent of 27,766-foot Makalu, and her dogged pursuit of the speed record for climbing the 14 mountains that stand above 8,000 meters. Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 9 Aug. 2022 In particular, James is such a one-dimensional good-for-nothing that his dogged pursuit of Mully and Joy adds limited dramatic interest. Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 July 2022 Morgan Freeman is the dogged FBI agent on her trail. Michael O'sullivan, Washington Post, 28 July 2022 Much like his buddy Cody Johnson, Jinks built his brand through relentless touring, solid songwriting with old-school roots and a dogged independence. Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see dog entry 1
First Known Use
1700, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
dogged
adjective
dog·ged ˈdȯ-gəd
: stubbornly determined
He continued his dogged search for the truth.
dogged 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in persistent
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement a madman who spent his life in dogged pursuit of power Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- persistent
- resolute
- insistent
- determined
- tenacious
- steadfast
- stubborn
- relentless
- persevering
- dedicated
- pertinacious
- patient
- constant
- loyal
- steady
- staunch
- adamant
- true
- willful
- hardened
- unwavering
- resolved
- unyielding
- devoted
- faithful
- obstinate
- implacable
- obdurate
- mulish
- bullheaded
- pigheaded
- hardheaded
- unfaltering
- single-minded
- positive
- headstrong
- firm
- assured
- unrelenting
- peevish
- hard
- resistant
- indomitable
- certain
- wayward
- good
- unhesitating
- sure
- unflinching
- opinionated
- indurate
- intent
- unbending
- perverse
- wrongheaded
- wilful
- stern
- hell-bent
- stanch
- unregenerate
- unconquerable
- self-willed
- stiff-necked
- inflexible
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- faltering
- yielding
- surrendering
- irresolute
- quitting
- hesitant
- wavering
- faithless
- treacherous
- perfidious
- fickle
- vacillating
- disloyal
- inconstant
- traitorous
- false
- hesitating
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion your dogged adherence to a really lame argument is embarrassing Synonyms & Similar Words
- stubborn
- adamant
- steadfast
- hardened
- unrelenting
- obstinate
- obsessive
- uncompromising
- implacable
- unyielding
- wilful
- mulish
- unbending
- persistent
- obdurate
- intransigent
- willful
- relentless
- hardheaded
- pertinacious
- headstrong
- determined
- hard
- bullheaded
- pigheaded
- hard-nosed
- opinionated
- immovable
- inflexible
- pat
- adamantine
- strict
- tenacious
- perverse
- ossified
- resolved
- unflinching
- self-willed
- inconvincible
- wayward
- stiff-necked
- defiant
- stern
- self-opinionated
- inexorable
- severe
- single-minded
- deaf to reason
- rigid
- wrongheaded
- indomitable
- cantankerous
- iron
- intractable
- firm
- bloody-minded
- recalcitrant
- hidebound
- stouthearted
- uncooperative
- inveterate
- contumacious
- cussed
- contrary
- confirmed
- anal-retentive
- mutinous
- unconquerable
- hard-line
- exacting
- hell-bent
- disobedient
- unruly
- refractory
- insubordinate
- invincible
- unmanageable
- set
- demanding
- hard-shelled
- insurgent
- froward
- narrow-minded
- ungovernable
- hard-shell
- unregenerate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amenable
- acquiescent
- complying
- pliant
- compliant
- yielding
- flexible
- obedient
- tractable
- agreeable
- pliable
- docile
- willing
- relenting
- responsive
- receptive
- submissive
- accepting
- reasonable
- slavish
- placable
- temperate
- subservient
- manageable
- persuadable
- governable
3
as in relentless
showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose a dogged search for the missing piece of the puzzle Synonyms & Similar Words
- relentless
- determined
- persistent
- grim
- unrelenting
- unflinching
- unyielding
- implacable
- stubborn
- ruthless
- tenacious
- persevering
- unappeasable
- willful
- merciless
- hard
- mulish
- obdurate
- pigheaded
- hardheaded
- intractable
- pertinacious
- headstrong
- peevish
- uncooperative
- opinionated
- unforgiving
- wilful
- perverse
- self-willed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- softening
- yielding
- weak
- slackening
- spineless
- impotent
- slack
- invertebrate
- complaisant
- pliant
- obliging
- pliable
dogged
2 of 2verb
1
as in chased
to go after or on the track of star athletes being dogged by fans when they're out in public Synonyms & Similar Words
- chased
- pursued
- tracked
- followed
- hounded
- accompanied
- traced
- trailed
- escorted
- shadowed
- tailed
- ran after
- tagged
- watched
- coursed
- bird-dogged
- run
- sought
- hunted
- ran
- eyed
- observed
- chaperoned
- searched (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- led
- guided
- piloted
- headed
2
as in hounded
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders tired of constantly having to dog their son about cleaning his room Synonyms & Similar Words
- hounded
- nagged
- urged
- plagued
- bothered
- badgered
- begged
- needled
- henpecked
- picked at
- annoyed
- vexed
- spurred
- pushed
- pestered
- harassed
- irked
- prompted
- goaded
- insisted
- harried
- prodded
- rid
- bugged
- coaxed
- egged
- pecked (at)
- incited
- hassled
- chivvied
- rode
- exhorted
- pleaded
- nitpicked
- baited
- cajoled
- pressured
- wheedled
- plead
- chivied
- pressed
- importuned
- yapped (at)
- vext
- carped (at)
- fussed (about or over)
- blandished
- pled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praised
- complimented
- commended
- lauded
- recommended
- applauded
- touted
- extolled
- acclaimed
- built up
- eulogized
Synonym Chooser
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
The meanings of mulish and dogged largely overlap; however, mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.
a mulish determination to have his own way
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
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
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