Synonyms of pertinacious

pertinacious

adjective

ˌpər-tə-ˈnā-shəs 

1

as in persistent

continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement

a pertinacious little boy who was determined to catch and collect reptiles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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

Barletta’s pertinacious reputation on immigration, from his time as mayor of Hazleton to his four terms in the U.S. House, is at center stage this year in his campaign to defeat Sen. Bob Casey’s bid for a third term. —Chris Brennan, Philly.com, 25 June 2018

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