PERTINACIOUS Synonyms: 153 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'pertinacious' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of pertinacious are dogged , mulish , obstinate , and stubborn . While all these words mean "fixed and unyielding in course or purpose," pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence. // a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer

Q: When can 'dogged' be used instead of 'pertinacious'?

The synonyms dogged and pertinacious are sometimes interchangeable, but dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence. // pursued the story with dogged perseverance

Q: In what contexts can 'mulish' take the place of 'pertinacious'?

In some situations, the words mulish and pertinacious are roughly equivalent. However, mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy. // a mulish determination to have his own way

Q: When is it sensible to use 'obstinate' instead of 'pertinacious'?

While the synonyms obstinate and pertinacious are close in meaning, obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence. // an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories

Q: When would 'stubborn' be a good substitute for 'pertinacious'?

Although the words stubborn and pertinacious have much in common, stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable. // a person too stubborn to admit error

pertinacious

adjective

ˌpər-tə-ˈnā-shəs

Definition of pertinacious

as in persistent

continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement a pertinacious little boy who was determined to catch and collect reptiles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stubborn

sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion a pertinacious salesman who would simply not take "No!" for an answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pertinacious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of pertinacious are dogged, mulish, obstinate, and stubborn. While all these words mean "fixed and unyielding in course or purpose," pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence.

a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer

When can dogged be used instead of pertinacious?

The synonyms dogged and pertinacious are sometimes interchangeable, but dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence.

pursued the story with dogged perseverance

In what contexts can mulish take the place of pertinacious?

In some situations, the words mulish and pertinacious are roughly equivalent. However, mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.

a mulish determination to have his own way

When is it sensible to use obstinate instead of pertinacious?

While the synonyms obstinate and pertinacious are close in meaning, obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence.

an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories

When would stubborn be a good substitute for pertinacious?

Although the words stubborn and pertinacious have much in common, 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 pertinacious But Kerry, the pertinacious diplomat and former Massachusetts senator, sees too much to do — and insisted in an interview with The Boston Globe there is too much to possibly achieve — to quit just yet. — Jess Bidgood, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Feb. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pertinacious

Adjective

For now, weekly cases of dengue are slowing a bit, while still persistent, in Florida as the state welcomes cooler, drier air.

— Jessica Meszaros, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
Every microservice and Kubernetes workload must be right-sized upfront—CPU limits, memory requests, persistent and ephemeral storage, and GPU allocation.

— Karan Alang, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

But Democrats face a tall task ahead, economists say, especially because the broader economic challenges that vexed voters stem from global conflicts like the Iran war and stubborn inflation.

— Mirtha Donastorg, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
With corporate profits and consumer spending remaining healthy, layoffs also remain low despite stubborn inflation and recent jitters in the stock market over whether the pace of AI investment is sustainable.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

The meaning is largely in the emotion and intelligence Lily brings to bear upon her work, the process, the insistent intertwining of her creativity and her becoming.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
It was meant to be, as 860’s insistent underscoring by Marc Shaiman will often remind you.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of insistent

Adjective

On the younger side was Matthew Briggs, who was adamant to see Brooks live despite only knowing one song.

— Rashad Alexander November 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026
Regardless, Republican Sam Matthews, an at-times independent voter who dropped into the Ohio GOP bus tour launch party in Strongsville, remained adamant Democrats continued to be too extreme for most of the electorate.

— Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of adamant

Adjective

Remembering Dolores Huerta The fiery and resolute activist who helped launch and guide the nation’s first enduring labor union for poor farmworkers, and later became an inspiration to women and liberal true believers, has died.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
And after October 7, opposition to the notion has become far more resolute.

— Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of resolute

Adjective

Sirianni had been steadfast in his faith in Mannion over the last few weeks but did not give him an endorsement when asked if the beleaguered coordinator would keep his role.

— CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Chris is a champion for Connecticut, for the core values of our nation, and a steadfast defender of democracy, both at home and abroad.

— Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of steadfast

Adjective

And the Ithacan more than lives up to his reputation as the most obstinate hero in history, regularly taunting Poseidon (Miles Anderson) despite knowing the god will delay his return home.

— Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
When councilman Steve Novick threatened to sue, the Blazers recoiled and became obstinate.

— Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of obstinate

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pertinacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pertinacious. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pertinacious

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes