DOGGED Synonyms: 253 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dogged 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdȯ-gəd

Definition of dogged

as in persistent

continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement a madman who spent his life in dogged pursuit of power

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dogged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dog

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

While gaining a seat in Texas has long been a far-off dream for Democrats, Paxton’s controversies have dogged him during the race. — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 Getting back to flying … The rollout of the company’s new Vulcan rocket has been dogged by problems with the vehicle’s solid rocket boosters. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dogged

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogged

Adjective

Symptoms usually affect one breast and can include discoloration, a persistent rash, swelling, warmth, skin that looks pitted like an orange peel and a nipple that turns inward, according to the National Cancer Institute.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Cadillac has endured some persistent reliability issues and needs to surmount them.

— Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

Lander was adamant that rezonings didn’t have to go the way of Williamsburg.

— Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
In a time when both the comic book and art community are grappling with artists using generative AI in their work, Long is adamant that digital painting is cool but says using AI and selling the art as original is a huge problem.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of adamant

Adjective

After years of cruel dismissal from his grandfather, Kang Seung-woon (Jung Jin-young), and relentless pressure from his mother, Kang Ji-hye (Yoon Se-ah), Pi-o doubts his talent.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
In a time defined by AI acceleration, expanding cybersecurity risks and relentless pressure to grow, organizations can no longer afford leadership models that diffuse responsibility when outcomes fall short.

— Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of relentless

Verb

Know More Private-credit firms are one of the fastest-growing borrower sets for banks, which were chased out of risky lending after the 2008 crisis but have since found their way back into the trade by lending to the firms that replaced them.

— Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
My father, a Brazilian immigrant, chased after the man, and helped the police make an arrest.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of chased

Verb

Hill expresses, in earnest, the fears of being seen in public spaces, such as a grocery store, hounded by personal questions—an all-too relatable scenario, regardless of one’s background.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
There were also social-media groups that hounded commissioners and sought to sink the hunt.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026

Definition of hounded

Adjective

Del Toro was insistent that the texture and grain of the original movie, which was shot on film, remain.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
In 2016, Senator Bernie Sanders shocked the Democratic establishment by running a close race against Hillary Clinton for the Party’s Presidential nomination, thanks to his insistent focus on income and wealth inequality.

— Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of insistent

Adjective

Earlier, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller suggested that more interest rate rises may be needed to tackle stubborn inflation, which has stayed above the Fed's 2% target for more than five years.

— Hugh Leask,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
The apparent disconnect between a recovery in oil supply and stubborn fuel prices has drawn attention from analysts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

Zaslav and the Warner board drove a hard bargain, rejecting a series of takeover offers by Paramount CEO David Ellison that started at $18 a share in cash with the offer propelled ever higher by the determined Ellison.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
But the Oscar-winning writer of 2010’s The Social Network remained determined not to go back to that well.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of determined

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dogfights

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“Dogged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogged. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dogged

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verb

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