tenacious
[ tuh-ney-shuhs ]
/ təˈneɪ ʃəs /
adjective
holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (often followed by of): a tenacious grip on my arm; tenacious of old habits.
highly retentive: a tenacious memory.
pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous.
holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough.
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Origin of tenacious
First recorded in 1600–10; tenaci(ty) + -ous
OTHER WORDS FROM tenacious
Words nearby tenacious
Tempyō, Temuco, ten, tenable, tenace, tenacious, tenacity, ten-acre block, tenaculum, tenaculum forceps, Tenafly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for tenacious
British Dictionary definitions for tenacious
tenacious
/ (tɪˈneɪʃəs) /
adjective
holding or grasping firmly; forcefula tenacious grip
retentivea tenacious memory
stubborn or persistenta tenacious character
holding together firmly; tough or cohesivetenacious cement
tending to stick or adheretenacious mud
Derived forms of tenacious
tenaciously, adverbtenaciousness or tenacity (tɪˈnæsɪtɪ), nounWord Origin for tenacious
C16: from Latin tenāx, from tenēre to hold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for tenacious
tenacious
[ tə-nā′shəs ]
adj.
Clinging to another object or surface; adhesive.
Holding together firmly; cohesive.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.