dogged 1 of 2

Definition of doggednext
1
2
3

dogged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dog

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dogged distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

When is mulish a more appropriate choice than dogged?

The meanings of mulish and dogged largely overlap; however, mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.

a mulish determination to have his own way

In what contexts can obstinate take the place of dogged?

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

When might pertinacious be a better fit than dogged?

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

When can stubborn be used instead of dogged?

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dogged
Adjective
Images like that—paired with her more dogged energy on some of these tracks—suggest there is hope buried somewhere in these songs. Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026 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
Verb
That’s according to a new report by the watchdog group Public Citizen, which alleges the contracts are the latest sign of a conflict-of-interest controversy that has dogged the project since its inception. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 June 2026 As a teen-ager, Andrew was dogged by a feeling of unease. Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dogged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogged
Adjective
  • The launch includes five solution categories—Restaurant Assistant, Packer, Picker, Folder, and Host—targeting persistent labor shortages in sectors such as industrial operations, logistics, healthcare, food services, lodging, and experiential venues.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026
  • Why is this padding so persistent?
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Dealing with stubborn dark spots?
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026
  • But when the adults decide to cancel Christmas and the magical star fades away, a stubborn little bird named Pikkuli sets off on a winter adventure with friends to find the Starlight Reindeer and bring back the light.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Four people have died and Kentucky’s governor declared a state of emergency after relentless thunderstorms unleashed deadly flash flooding.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • His most recent win in Las Vegas against Brunno Ferreira was decided in the first round, adding to his reputation as a relentless, precise fighter.
    Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Perhaps the problem arose from the extravagant expectations of American life, the sense that bad luck will always be chased by good fortune and that the poor man is merely someone who has yet to strike it rich.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • What is the metaphor for young people being chased by monsters really about?
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Goldberg, on the other hand, hounded Freedman with questions, asking about every material used in every step of the process.
    Jesse Armas, Curbed, 16 June 2026
  • Even Arnett recounted a moment where she was hounded by photographers on her way to the Monster-in-Law set, only contributing to her level of stress.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • The landscape is didactic, insistent.
    Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
  • Rough, then insistent, like the cinch of a blood pressure cuff.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • And in Season Two, Survival of the Thickest went all out on a dream wedding for Peppermint, an idea Buteau was adamant about making it on screen.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026
  • Advertisement Throughout negotiations, Tehran has been adamant that any cease-fire with Washington must also end the hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, and that any permanent truce must lead to Israel withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • It was held just 22 years after the Great Chicago Fire devastated the city, but Chicago was determined to dominate the world stage.
    Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 27 June 2026
  • There was an element of cynicism, but not on the part of determined prosecutors who overcame obstacles and brought the case to guilty pleas by three defendants and the conviction on 21 counts of the public official who ignited the scandal.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dogged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogged. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on dogged

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster