pertinacious

per·ti·na·cious

adjective \ˌpər-tə-ˈnā-shəs\

Definition of PERTINACIOUS

1

a : adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design

b : perversely persistent

2

: stubbornly tenacious

— per·ti·na·cious·ly adverb

— per·ti·na·cious·ness noun

— per·ti·nac·i·ty \-ˈna-sə-tē\ noun

Examples of PERTINACIOUS

1. <a pertinacious little boy who was determined to catch and collect reptiles>
2. <a pertinacious salesman who would simply not take “No!” for an answer>

Origin of PERTINACIOUS

Latin pertinac-, pertinax, from per- thoroughly + tenac-, tenax tenacious, from tenēre

First Known Use: 1626

Related to PERTINACIOUS

Synonyms

dogged, insistent, patient, persevering, persistent, tenacious

Antonyms

acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding

Related Words

assured, certain, dedicated, determined, firm, hell-bent, intent, positive, resolute, resolved, single-minded, sure; adamant, bullheaded, dogged, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, implacable, indurate, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, persistent, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stiff-necked, stubborn, unregenerate, unyielding, willful (or wilful); unfaltering, unhesitating, unwavering; resistant, wayward, wrongheaded; constant, devoted, faithful, good, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, steady, true; indomitable, unconquerable; hard, inflexible, relentless, stern, unbending, unflinching, unrelenting

Near Antonyms

quitting, surrendering, yielding; faltering, hesitant, hesitating, irresolute, vacillating, wavering; disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, traitorous, treacherous

See Synonym Discussion at obstinate

Rhymes with PERTINACIOUS

arenaceous, carbonaceous, contumacious, disputatious, efficacious, farinaceous, foliaceous, gallinaceous, orchidaceous, ostentatious, perspicacious, solanaceous, violaceous