tenacious
Americanadjective
-
holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (often followed byof ).
a tenacious grip on my arm; tenacious of old habits.
-
highly retentive.
a tenacious memory.
-
persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
- Synonyms:
- obstinate, persistent, pertinacious, dogged
-
adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous.
- Synonyms:
- clingy
-
holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough.
adjective
-
holding or grasping firmly; forceful
a tenacious grip
-
retentive
a tenacious memory
-
stubborn or persistent
a tenacious character
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holding together firmly; tough or cohesive
tenacious cement
-
tending to stick or adhere
tenacious mud
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of tenacious
First recorded in 1600–10; tenaci(ty) + -ous
Explanation
Use tenacious to mean "not easily letting go or giving up," like a clingy child who has a tenacious grip on his mother's hand. A strong grip or an unyielding advocate might both be described as tenacious, a word whose synonyms include resolute, firm, and persistent. The word comes from the Latin root tenax, which means "holding fast." The basketball commentator Marv Albert, impressed by a defender's skill, once uttered the sound bite, "That's some tenacious D!" ("D" is short for "defense.") The musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass borrowed the phrase for the name of their comedy-rock band, Tenacious D.
Vocabulary lists containing tenacious
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It was really a horrific thing,” said Jobson, who worked aboard Turner’s boat, Tenacious.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Tenacious D is plotting a return, according to a new interview with band member Kyle Gass.
From Salon • Jan. 21, 2026
The near 20-year break must have allowed the actor and Tenacious D musician to stash away a private reserve of energy for his fourth time as host.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2025
Tenacious in the carry and committed in defence, Ben Earl enjoyed a stellar campaign as he cemented his place as England's first-choice number eight.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2024
Tenacious of a sceptre now falling from his hand, he conspired against the life of his successor, and cherished the idea of changing to a democracy the Roman empire.
From History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 4 by Milman, Henry Hart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
