staying power

noun

Definition of staying powernext
as in ability
the quality or trait that allows someone or something to continue to be effective, successful, popular, etc., for a long period of time a long-distance runner with a lot of staying power a song with staying power Her staying power as a pop icon is remarkable.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 staying power Even before the revival was announced, the movie’s staying power and influence on pop culture are undeniable. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 But Scopely’s games president, Ed Wu, attributes Pokémon Go’s staying power to the way the company has put much more emphasis on cultivating player communities. — Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 10 July 2026 Breezy, fashionable and effortless, Bermuda shorts have been on-trend for the past few years and are showing off their staying power in 2026. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 How have books maintained their staying power despite the countless distractions of daily life? — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for staying power
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staying power
  1. ability
  2. talent
  3. skill
  4. gift
  5. prowess
Noun
  • That, however, does a disservice to the steel and desire shown by Spain, who are now both European and world champions, and also to the Argentine ability to lock in under pressure and produce when that gets turns up.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • La Roja had been the best team of the World Cup and had done so by remaining faithful to itself and its soccer through technique, ability and skill honed through years and years of doing the same thing better than anyone else.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of ability
Noun
  • Adidas reportedly spent $67 million on its hero film, Backyard Legends, while Nike also splashed heavily on talent — Kim Kardashian, Kylian Mbappé, Central Cee, and LeBron James, among others — for its competing short, Rip the Script.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • The coaching staff thought the talent the team inherited, with the addition of a few bargain signings, was better than the numbers showed.
    — Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
Definition of talent
Noun
  • An important place for young people to hone their skills from across the country and without socio-economic exemption.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 July 2026
  • There are over 75 classes available for all skill levels and even include prenatal courses.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 July 2026
Definition of skill
Noun
  • Some of its greatest gifts arrive disguised as boredom — an afternoon with nothing scheduled, a bike pointed toward a friend’s house, a library book that unexpectedly becomes impossible to put down.
    — Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 16 July 2026
  • Federal Election Commission filings released Wednesday night show the CEO personally donated $1 million in May to Public First, the super PAC pushing for mandatory AI safety rules—his largest political gift on record.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of gift
Noun
  • This upcoming match not only showcases their athletic prowess but also underscores their enduring dedication to UNICEF's mission.
    — Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Nothing sets aside lingering skepticism about an artist’s star power or prowess like a great performance on a major stage.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 17 July 2026
Definition of prowess

Browse Nearby Words

staying clear of
staying power
stays
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Staying power.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staying%20power. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of raffish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All