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.
-
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
Explanation
If something is persistent, it just won't stop. If you're persistent in your suggestions for a trip to Mexico, maybe your parents will eventually give in and take you there. Persistent comes from the Latin verb persistere which means "to continue with strength." A persistent salesman refuses to give up. A persistent ringing sound is one that repeats and repeats. Persistent rumors keep circulating, as does a persistent virus. Often something persistent is annoying. The related verb is persist, which means to continue to exist, or to go without stopping.
Vocabulary lists containing persistent
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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List 3
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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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.
The heat wave is deep, persistent and widespread, spanning from roughly San Francisco to the Mexican border.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
Evergrande's downfall has often been cited as a trigger for China's persistent property market slump, which spiralled downwards in 2021 and has weighed heavily on the country's economic development.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
What was once a market leadership group quickly turned into one of the weakest areas, marked by persistent selling pressure, broken charts, and a clear loss of investor confidence.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
This time, however, the “shift is macro-driven rather than caused by lockdowns, which suggests a more persistent drag and genuine demand destruction.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Not bad work for a persistent twelve-year-old, but still not enough.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
