tenacious
Americanadjective
-
holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (often followed byof ).
a tenacious grip on my arm; tenacious of old habits.
-
highly retentive.
a tenacious memory.
-
persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
- Synonyms:
- obstinate, persistent, pertinacious, dogged
-
adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous.
- Synonyms:
- clingy
-
holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough.
adjective
-
holding or grasping firmly; forceful
a tenacious grip
-
retentive
a tenacious memory
-
stubborn or persistent
a tenacious character
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holding together firmly; tough or cohesive
tenacious cement
-
tending to stick or adhere
tenacious mud
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of tenacious
First recorded in 1600–10; tenaci(ty) + -ous
Explanation
Use tenacious to mean "not easily letting go or giving up," like a clingy child who has a tenacious grip on his mother's hand. A strong grip or an unyielding advocate might both be described as tenacious, a word whose synonyms include resolute, firm, and persistent. The word comes from the Latin root tenax, which means "holding fast." The basketball commentator Marv Albert, impressed by a defender's skill, once uttered the sound bite, "That's some tenacious D!" ("D" is short for "defense.") The musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass borrowed the phrase for the name of their comedy-rock band, Tenacious D.
Vocabulary lists containing tenacious
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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 storm was so rough and communication so limited that Tenacious was briefly reported missing.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Gass said that the Sydney show definitely won’t be Tenacious D’s last.
From Salon • Jan. 21, 2026
Black and Gass formed Tenacious D in 1994 and gained a cult following for the band’s short films and songs including “Tribute” and “Rize of the Fenix.”
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2024
He said he didn’t feel it was "appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour", and that the rest of the group’s "creative plans are on hold".
From BBC • Jul. 16, 2024
Tenacious survivals surround them both, and are responsible for many of the difficulties of mental and moral adjustment which make the woman question a puzzle to both conservative and radical thinkers on the subject.
From Taboo and Genetics A Study of the Biological, Sociological and Psychological Foundation of the Family by Knight, Melvin Moses
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.
