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.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
stubborn, dogged, steadfast, tough, resolute, forceful, persistent, strong-willed, unswerving, determined, stout, spunky, staunch, relentless, cohesive, retentive, adamant, bound, clinging, coherent
Nearby words
- tena koe,
- tena korua,
- tena koutou,
- tenable,
- tenace,
- tenaciously,
- tenacity,
- tenaculum,
- tenaculum forceps,
- tenafly
Origin of tenacious
SYNONYMS FOR tenacious
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web 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
Word 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
tenacious
c.1600, from Latin tenaci-, from tenax "holding fast" (see tenacity). Related: Tenaciously; tenaciousness.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.