as in insistent
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement
although his first attempts were singularly unsuccessful, he was persistent in his pursuit of a career in rock music
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persistent
Stranger Things wouldn't be Stranger Things without those instantly recognizable 1980s hair silhouettes, from Nancy's ever-expanding halo of curls to Joyce's stalwart blunt bangs to Will's persistent bowl cut.
—
Meg Walters, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Twenty-six of such persistent microbes were found at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, where NASA assembled its Phoenix Mars Lander.
—Devika Rao, TheWeek, 9 Jan. 2026
Professional and business services and the information sector both posted net job losses for the year, reflecting persistent layoffs in tech and corporate roles.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Faithfull’s signature, distinctive, melodic, high-register vocals had defined her career, but her voice was permanently altered by severe laryngitis and her persistent drug abuse.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persistent
Meg Walters, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Twenty-six of such persistent microbes were found at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, where NASA assembled its Phoenix Mars Lander.
—Devika Rao, TheWeek, 9 Jan. 2026
Professional and business services and the information sector both posted net job losses for the year, reflecting persistent layoffs in tech and corporate roles.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Faithfull’s signature, distinctive, melodic, high-register vocals had defined her career, but her voice was permanently altered by severe laryngitis and her persistent drug abuse.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persistent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persistent
Adjective
-
Sometimes the people are extremely pushy and insistent.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Donna Adelson began a fierce campaign against Markel to relocate the children and Wendi down to South Florida with her, but Markel remained insistent on keeping the kids in Tallahassee, 500 miles away, according to authorities.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These two ingredients mixed together creates a powerful mixture perfect for lifting stubborn stains off grout because of their high cleaning and brightening properties.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The vinegar cleaning method isn’t foolproof, and sometimes stubborn residue can remain on your microwave walls.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But Sarah remains resolute, Bert tamps down his desire to make a quick buck — for a while, at least — and the situation starts to draw national attention, thanks to the involvement of a white civil rights attorney and a Black reporter from up north.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Despite his anger, the woman remained confused but resolute.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Still, the identity of an offense that amassed more regular-season yardage (6,282) than any of the previous 105 Bears teams was established up front, with a tenacious line and the kind of aggressive running game Johnson embraces.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
More typically, the figures in Marshall’s art are haunted by a past that refuses to relinquish its tenacious hold.—
James Meyer,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Pats are back because of who their quarterback has become, and who Mike Vrabel is as a head coach; a man capable of steeling a brittle roster into a dogged competitor.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
22 Dec. 2025
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And in a recent piece for Foreign Affairs, drawing on a new book co-authored with Hussein Agha, Malley argues that the cause of that disappointment is Washington’s dogged insistence on a two-state solution that neither Israelis nor Palestinians really want.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
What alerted them to her location wasn’t footprints or a cell phone ping, however, but rather the sounds of her steadfast pup, Cami.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The year-on-year increases at each major are more modest, usually between 10 and 12 percent, but that percentage of tournament revenue remains steadfast, if not entirely immovable.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Czechia had trouble handling a relentless Sweden forecheck and tight coverage all over.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The investigation has resulted in Wallace being charged with concealment of death from unnatural causes, patient abuse and neglect and felony assault of an individual with disabilities, police said.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
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His focus was on treating her as an individual and patient, not as a statistic.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persistent. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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