Synonyms of dogged

dogged 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdȯ-gəd 

1

as in persistent

continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement

a madman who spent his life in dogged pursuit of power

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in adamant

sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion

your dogged adherence to a really lame argument is embarrassing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adamant
• stubborn
• steadfast
• hardened
• unrelenting
• obstinate
• uncompromising
• implacable
• obsessive
• intransigent
• obdurate
• unbending
• unyielding
• mulish
• willful
• bullheaded
• headstrong
• hardheaded
• pertinacious
• persistent
• opinionated
• relentless
• immovable
• hard
• pat
• determined
• hard-nosed
• adamantine
• inflexible
• pigheaded
• ossified
• perverse
• strict
• tenacious
• self-willed
• resolved
• stiff-necked
• inconvincible
• unflinching
• deaf to reason
• wayward
• self-opinionated
• stern
• inexorable
• defiant
• severe
• iron
• single-minded
• wrongheaded
• rigid
• hard-line
• cantankerous
• indomitable
• firm
• intractable
• hidebound
• recalcitrant
• uncooperative
• bloody-minded
• stouthearted
• contrary
• anal-retentive
• contumacious
• cussed
• narrow-minded
• inveterate
• confirmed
• hard-shell
• mutinous
• refractory
• unconquerable
• disobedient
• insubordinate
• unruly
• hell-bent
• unmanageable
• set
• invincible
• exacting
• demanding
• insurgent
• ungovernable
• froward
• unregenerate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amenable
• complying
• flexible
• acquiescent
• compliant
• pliant
• yielding
• agreeable
• obedient
• pliable
• tractable
• docile
• willing
• submissive
• responsive
• receptive
• accepting
• relenting
• reasonable
• manageable
• placable
• temperate
• slavish
• subservient
• persuadable
• governable

3

as in relentless

showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose

a dogged search for the missing piece of the puzzle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relentless
• determined
• grim
• persistent
• unrelenting
• unflinching
• implacable
• ruthless
• unyielding
• stubborn
• unappeasable
• tenacious
• willful
• hard
• merciless
• persevering
• obdurate
• mulish
• intractable
• headstrong
• peevish
• uncooperative
• hardheaded
• pertinacious
• opinionated
• pigheaded
• perverse
• unforgiving
• self-willed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softening
• yielding
• weak
• impotent
• slack
• spineless
• invertebrate
• slackening
• complaisant
• pliant
• pliable
• obliging

dogged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dog

1

as in chased

to go after or on the track of

star athletes being dogged by fans when they're out in public

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chased
• pursued
• tracked
• followed
• hounded
• accompanied
• traced
• escorted
• trailed
• shadowed
• tailed
• ran after
• tagged
• coursed
• watched
• bird-dogged
• ran
• sought
• hunted
• chaperoned
• observed
• eyed
• searched (for)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• led
• guided
• headed
• piloted

2

as in hounded

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

tired of constantly having to dog their son about cleaning his room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hounded
• urged
• nagged
• begged
• bothered
• picked at
• needled
• plagued
• pecked (at)
• badgered
• annoyed
• henpecked
• pushed
• spurred
• vexed
• harassed
• pestered
• prompted
• irked
• insisted
• goaded
• harried
• prodded
• bugged
• incited
• egged
• coaxed
• rode
• hassled
• exhorted
• pleaded
• fussed (about or over)
• baited
• pressured
• cajoled
• nitpicked
• wheedled
• chivied
• yapped (at)
• carped (at)
• pressed
• importuned
• blandished

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• complimented
• praised
• commended
• recommended
• lauded
• touted
• applauded
• acclaimed
• built up
• extolled
• eulogized

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

Recent Examples of dogged

Adjective

Her clarity of thought and dogged focus on how to uplift people who need it most have stayed constant. — Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 2 June 2026

He can be seen as a dogged competitor who used his edge to push his way to the big leagues. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 May 2026

Verb

Still, Marshall has been dogged by negative headlines over the last month, starting with a debate at the Kansas State Fair where the senator was shouted down by the crowd repeatedly. — Stephen Fowler, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026

Health problems dogged previous popes with Leo’s predecessor Francis spending an extended period in hospital and facing multiple health difficulties in the final months of his life. — Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026