dogged

adjective

dog·​ged ˈdȯ-gəd 

: marked by stubborn determination

a dogged competitor

dogged devotion

doggedly adverb

doggedness noun

Synonyms of dogged

• persistent
• insistent
• resolute

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

His parents ran a rowdy daycare out of their home an hour north of Denver, and Caldwell looks back at his dogged digging as an early attempt to find the kind of peace and clarity his mind has always naturally craved. —Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026

The Wolves will miss his shot creation on offense nearly as much as his dogged perimeter defense. —Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026

Other casting highlights include a strong Sosie Bacon as a dogged reporter plagued with awful dialogue; an eerie Anson Mount as a mysterious figure from Kay’s past; and Montgomery, who delivers welcome warmth in a weird role. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

There, Sweetpea puts her dogged investigation skills to use and returns with proof hard enough to save SternTao from ruin. —Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "having unattractive qualities (as belligerence or surliness) traditionally attributed to some dogs," from dog, dogge dog entry 1 + -ed -ed 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