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

Choose the Right Synonym for dogged

obstinate, dogged, stubborn, pertinacious, mulish mean fixed and unyielding in course or purpose.

obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence.

an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories

dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence.

pursued the story with dogged perseverance

stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable.

a person too stubborn to admit error

pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence.

a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer

mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.

a mulish determination to have his own way

Examples of dogged in a Sentence

Her dogged efforts eventually paid off.

a dogged pursuit of power

Recent Examples on the Web

This glimpse into prehistory is possible thanks to two tiny fossil footprints and the dogged work of an undergraduate intern at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument with a particular interest in ancient tracks, known as trace fossils. —Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025

With his unique credibility on the topic, Dinges eschews ideological presumptions for a dogged, comprehensive investigation of the facts. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

The 5-foot-5, 140-pound Rouse compensates for his modest size with dogged determination and quickness. —Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025

There is no one quite like Stanway, Bayern Munich’s no-nonsense, dogged and disciplined midfielder who runs from box to box, providing defensive security and creativity moving forward. —Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see dog entry 1

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dogged

• prorogued
• bogged
• clogged
• flogged
• fogged
• jogged
• logged
• catalogued
• waterlogged

Kids Definition

dogged

adjective

dog·​ged ˈdȯ-gəd 

: stubbornly determined : tenacious

in dogged pursuit of power

doggedly adverb

doggedness noun