Synonyms of tenacity

tenacity

noun

as in persistence

ability or willingness to carry on despite danger, difficulty, or obstacle

Although they appeared to be losing badly, the home team's tenacity allowed them to make a comeback and clinch the victory.

Related Words

• persistence
• persistency
• stamina
• determination
• endurance
• perseverance
• prowess
• tenaciousness
• courage
• doggedness
• fortitude
• nerve
• grit
• bravery
• stomach
• gumption
• resolution
• heroism
• courageousness
• boldness
• pluck
• mettle
• spunk
• audacity
• temper
• backbone
• fiber
• fearlessness
• pluckiness
• temerity
• effrontery
• gallantry
• valor
• daring
• gall
• intrepidity
• virtue
• brazenness
• cojones
• stoutness
• hardihood
• guts
• intrepidness
• gutsiness
• dauntlessness
• daringness
• cheek
• heart
• pecker
• moxie
• bottle
• greatheartedness
• intestinal fortitude
• doughtiness

Dissimilar Words

• hesitation
• indecision
• indecisiveness
• irresolution
• timidity
• softness
• fearfulness
• weakness
• cold feet
• feebleness
• timorousness
• faintheartedness
• impotence
• mousiness
• ineffectualness

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tenacity distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of tenacity are courage, mettle, resolution, and spirit. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

When can courage be used instead of tenacity?

While the synonyms courage and tenacity are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When is mettle a more appropriate choice than tenacity?

The synonyms mettle and tenacity are sometimes interchangeable, but mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

Where would resolution be a reasonable alternative to tenacity?

Although the words resolution and tenacity have much in common, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When is it sensible to use spirit instead of tenacity?

The meanings of spirit and tenacity largely overlap; however, spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tenacity

The tough, ingenious (and dirt-poor) Houthis, protected by Yemen’s mountainous interior, fought back with the tenacity of drug-resistant microbes. —Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

This should look like living your values (such as honesty, vulnerability, respect, enjoyment, curiosity, tenacity, risk-taking and learning from mistakes) every single day. —Bill Flederbach, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

But the tenacity of Kyiv’s forces in holding back the Russian summer offensive has been a remarkable outlier, and wider Russian progress remains a fierce possibility in the weeks ahead. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025

Ingelsby infused both Mare and Task with flourishes from his east-Pennsylvania homeland, and the show reflects the grit and tenacity of individuals from the area. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025