1
as in persistent
continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement
a pertinacious little boy who was determined to catch and collect reptiles
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in obdurateness
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
thanks to his pertinaciousness, he eventually succeeded where all others had failed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pertinacious
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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pertinacious
Adjective
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There are medications available to help with persistent skin conditions, Cortright said.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Over 1 million children in Haiti are facing critical levels of food insecurity in Haiti amid persistent armed violence and forced displacements.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Why Communication Training Often Fails To Stick Some people are very stubborn and stick to their communication style, even when confronted.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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The most glaring of those misses came against Arsenal in October, with Bournemouth trying to break down a stubborn defence following William Saliba’s dismissal.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In a small conference room of a Manhattan hotel, Nicolás García is insistent.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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But David also kind of forced Kyle to repeatedly defend her by being way too insistent that Kamilla be the one to go.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Since then, White House officials have remained adamant about sticking by Hegseth, even as criticism has mounted in recent weeks and questions about his judgment have resurfaced.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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Despite the significant decline, the Trump administration is adamant about shoring up the border to ensure it is left secure before leaving office.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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OpenAI recommends including three key reminders in all agent prompts: persistence (keeping going until resolution), tool-calling (using available tools rather than guessing), and planning (thinking before acting).—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Zaragoza’s persistence, and Martinez’s gamble to uproot his family, were massively rewarded in the years that followed.—
Joshua Korber Hoffman,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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If such a situation arises, China will never accept it and will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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Garland shared the duo’s resolute ethic while appearing at a Los Angeles panel alongside Mendoza (and D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, who portrays Mendoza with a convincing stoicism that arose from his inquiries into the concerted memories of the SEAL’s battle mates).—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Decade after decade, the city remains steadfast in the face of adversity.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Among those who left in time, some remained steadfast in their lifelong friendships, as did their children.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of litigating the negotiations in the press and of being obstinate for drawing a red line by declaring Ukraine would not accept a deal that recognizes Russia’s occupation of Crimea.—
Jonathan Easley,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2025
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Glide your steam mop across obstinate stains or spills and eradicate the mess along with the bacteria.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pertinacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pertinacious. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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