tenacious

adjective te·na·cious \ tə-ˈnā-shəs \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of tenacious

1 a : not easily pulled apart : cohesive

a tenacious metal

b : tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance

tenacious burs

2 a : persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired

a tenacious advocate of civil rights

tenacious negotiators

b : retentive

a tenacious memory

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tenaciously

adverb

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tenaciousness

noun

See tenacious defined for English-language learners

See tenacious defined for kids

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Examples of tenacious in a Sentence

But raw capitalism has also proved tenacious, evolving its own means of endlessly restimulating consumption … —Nicholas Fraser, Harper's, November 2003
This "Southern Operation" would seal off China from outside help, thus underwriting victory in Japan's frustrating four-year war against Chiang Kai-shek's feckless but tenacious Chinese army. —David M. Kennedy, Atlantic, March 1999
We have been nominally democratic for so long that we presume it is our natural condition rather than the product of persistent effort and tenacious responsibility. —Benjamin R. Barber, Harper's, November 1993
Some people claim that by election day this year François Mitterrand had very little power besides the power of his own tenacious, authoritative, and austere persona. —Jane Kramer, New Yorker, 30 May 1988
The company has a tenacious hold on the market.
a tenacious trainer, she adheres to her grueling swimming schedule no matter what

Recent Examples of tenacious from the Web

Chris Hicks is a tenacious watchdog questioning longtime party leaders and even dragging them into court.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Trouble in Trump land: In one red Ohio county, the Republican party finds itself torn apart," 6 Apr. 2018
Michigan's calling card all year had been its ability to navigate through choppy waters by relying on a tenacious defense and an offense fueled by poise.

— nick baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan's dream run ends against Villanova, 79-62, in NCAA title game," 2 Apr. 2018
Notre Dame entered the final averaging 92.4 points in five NCAA tournament games, but were held to a season-low 17 points in the first half by a tenacious Bulldogs defense.

— jim chairusmi, WSJ, "Notre Dame Wins Women’s College Basketball Title," 1 Apr. 2018
My tenacious real estate agent sold my apartment and this time the co-op accepted the offer.

— adriana velez, Bon Appetit, "Ashwagandha Couldn't Cure My Burnout Lifestyle—Here's What Did," 27 Mar. 2018
Azubuike, a 7-footer who needed work, now provides a tenacious paint presence no other Final Four team has.

— scott gleeson, USA TODAY, "Bill Self coaching Kansas to Final Four might be highlight of his Hall of Fame career," 26 Mar. 2018
With tenacious defense and just enough made free throws down the stretch, Michigan hung on and advanced to San Antonio next weekend to face the underdog heroes of Loyola-Chicago (32-5), who stunned the sport by winning the South Regional.

— greg beacham, Houston Chronicle, "Michigan edges Florida St. to reach first Final Four since 2013," 24 Mar. 2018
But soon after, a tenacious film of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria formed on the graft.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Virus fished from pond cures man’s deadly antibiotic-resistant infection," 20 Mar. 2018
The squad posted 10 shutouts behind the tenacious play of Josh Wagenmann, who was tops in sacks and flags pulled for a loss.

— alex kushel, Sun-Sentinel.com, "West Boynton youth league crowns its flag football champions," 18 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tenacious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

tenacious Has Latin Roots

For all of its nearly 400 years, "tenacious" has adhered closely to its Latin antecedent: tenax, an adjective meaning "tending to hold fast." Almost from the first, "tenacious" could suggest either literal adhesion or figurative stick-to-itiveness. Sticker burrs are tenacious, and so are athletes who don't let defeat get them down. We use "tenacious" of a good memory, too - one that has a better than average capacity to hold information. But you can also have too much of a good thing. The addition in Latin of the prefix per- ("thoroughly") to "tenax" led to the English word pertinacious, meaning "perversely persistent." You might use "pertinacious" for the likes of rumors and telemarketers, for example.

Origin and Etymology of tenacious

Latin tenac-, tenax tending to hold fast, from tenēre to hold

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First Known Use: 1607

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tenacious Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of tenacious

strong, stout, sturdy, stalwart, tough, tenacious mean showing power to resist or to endure. strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.

- strong arms
- the defense has a strong case

stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.

- stout hiking boots

sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.

- a sturdy table
- people of sturdy independence

stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.

- stalwart environmentalists

tough implies great firmness and resiliency.

- a tough political opponent

tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

- tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

TENACIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

tenacious

adjective

Definition of tenacious for English Language Learners

: not easily stopped or pulled apart : firm or strong
: continuing for a long time
: very determined to do something

TENACIOUS Defined for Kids

tenacious

adjective te·na·cious \ tə-ˈnā-shəs \

Definition of tenacious for Students

1 : persistent

a tenacious fighter

2 : not easily pulled apart

Word Root of tenacious

The Latin words tenēre, meaning “to hold,” gives us the roots ten and tain. Words from the Latin tenēre have something to do with holding. Something tenacious holds on and is not easily gotten rid of. To contain is to hold things together inside. To obtain is to get hold of. To retain is to continue to hold.