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tenacious
[ tuh-ney-shuhs ]
/ təˈneɪ ʃəs /
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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.
persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous.
holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough.
OTHER WORDS FOR tenacious
4 clingy, clinging.
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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, tenaciously, tenacity, ten-acre block, tenaculum, Tenafly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use tenacious in a sentence
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
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