persistent

[per-sis-tuhnt, -zis-]

adjective

1. persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering.

   a most annoyingly persistent young man.

   Synonyms: tenacious, pertinacious, indefatigable

2. lasting or enduring tenaciously.

   the persistent aroma of verbena; a persistent cough.

3. constantly repeated; continued.

   persistent noise.

   Synonyms: steady, constant
   Antonyms: sporadic

4. Biology.

   1. continuing or permanent.

   2. having continuity of phylogenetic characteristics.

5. Botany.,  remaining attached beyond the usual time, as flowers, flower parts, or leaves.

persistent

/ pəˈsɪstənt /

adjective

1. showing persistence

2. incessantly repeated; unrelenting

   your persistent questioning

3. (of plant parts) remaining attached to the plant after the normal time of withering

   a fruit surrounded by a persistent perianth

4. zoology

   1. (of parts normally present only in young stages) present in the adult

      persistent gills in axolotls

   2. continuing to grow or develop after the normal period of growth

      persistent teeth

5. (of a chemical, esp when used as an insecticide) slow to break down; not easily degradable

Other Word Forms

• persistently adverb
• nonpersistent adjective
• nonpersistently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of persistent¹

First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin persistent- (stem of persistēns ), present participle of persistere “to stand firm, persist”; persist, -ent

Synonym Study

See stubborn.

Example Sentences

Two regional Federal Reserve presidents expressed reservations about further interest rate cuts, citing persistent inflation.

Read more on Barron's

On the other hand, she expressed impatience with persistent inflation, noting that prices already rose nearly at the Fed’s annual target rate between January and August alone.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“This transition certainly reflects growing macro anxiety, fueled by persistent inflation, elevated interest rates, and uncertainty around the Federal Reserve’s policy path,” he added.

Read more on Barron's

The information wasn’t easy to find, but the children were persistent, and after weeks of work, they finally found what they were searching for.

Read more on Literature

The author contends that meme stocks remain a persistent and problematic phenomenon in financial markets, contradicting earlier expectations that the trend would dissipate after the 2020-2021 period.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• constant 
• continual 
• endless 
• enduring 
• incessant 
• insistent 
• perpetual 
• relentless 
• repeated 
• resolute 
• steadfast 
• steady 
• stubborn 
• tenacious 
• unrelenting 
• unremitting