persistent
Americanadjective
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persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering.
a most annoyingly persistent young man.
- Synonyms:
- tenacious, pertinacious, indefatigable
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lasting or enduring tenaciously.
the persistent aroma of verbena; a persistent cough.
-
constantly repeated; continued.
persistent noise.
- Antonyms:
- sporadic
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Biology.
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continuing or permanent.
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having continuity of phylogenetic characteristics.
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Botany. remaining attached beyond the usual time, as flowers, flower parts, or leaves.
adjective
-
showing persistence
-
incessantly repeated; unrelenting
your persistent questioning
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(of plant parts) remaining attached to the plant after the normal time of withering
a fruit surrounded by a persistent perianth
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zoology
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(of parts normally present only in young stages) present in the adult
persistent gills in axolotls
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continuing to grow or develop after the normal period of growth
persistent teeth
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(of a chemical, esp when used as an insecticide) slow to break down; not easily degradable
Related Words
See stubborn.
Other Word Forms
- nonpersistent adjective
- nonpersistently adverb
- persistently adverb
Etymology
Origin of persistent
First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin persistent- (stem of persistēns ), present participle of persistere “to stand firm, persist”; persist, -ent
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.
Recent crude price fluctuations, hitting $100 a barrel, coupled with persistent inflation and a slowing economy, raise new stagflation concerns.
From Barron's
The builder’s new orders increased 1% from the year prior “despite persistent headwinds, including elevated mortgage rates, cautious consumer sentiment, and geopolitical uncertainty,” he noted, adding that Lennar achieved that by keeping incentives elevated.
From Barron's
According to Teodoro, the conflict is less of a systemic demand-and-supply shock than the pandemic, but it represents a persistent and potentially long-lasting disruption affecting all shipping segments — container, dry bulk and oil tanker.
From MarketWatch
After severe infection, some neutrophils began behaving abnormally and contributed to a persistent inflammatory environment described as "pro-tumor," meaning it supports cancer growth.
From Science Daily
Across the world economy, production costs will fall while a persistent drag on growth is removed and household purchasing power is strengthened.
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.
