tenacity

[ tuh-nas-i-tee ]

/ təˈnæs ɪ ti /

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See synonyms for tenacity on Thesaurus.com

noun

the quality of being tenacious, or of holding fast; persistence: the amazing tenacity of rumors.

the quality of retaining something: the tenacity of memory.

the quality or property of holding together firmly: testing the tenacity of the old book's binding.

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QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

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Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of tenacity

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin tenācitās equivalent to tenāc- (stem of tenāx ) “holding fast,” derivative of tenēre “to hold” + -itās -ity

synonym study for tenacity

See perseverance.

OTHER WORDS FROM tenacity

o·ver·te·nac·i·ty, noun

Words nearby tenacity

ten, tenable, tenace, tenacious, tenaciously, tenacity, ten-acre block, tenaculum, tenaculum forceps, Tenafly, tenaille

How to use tenacity in a sentence

He was a hard worker, he was ethical … As a result of his tenacity and spirit, he was able to shepherd vitally important legislation to the Senate floor, through the House, and to the governor for signature.
Former Md. Senate president Mike Miller dies|Philip Van Slooten|January 16, 2021|Washington Blade
His coaching philosophy was built on understanding his players, then finding the right blend of talent and tenacity to build a winning team.
K.C. Jones, basketball Hall of Famer with a knack for championships, dies at 88|Matt Schudel|December 27, 2020|Washington Post
So I think tenacity is one thing, but wearing them down is another.
Nina West spreads holiday cheer in two new videos|Joey DiGuglielmo|December 5, 2020|Washington Blade
Whatever the strategy, or lack of one, Musk’s drive for creative undertakings is relentless, and he seems to approach virtually everything in his life with the same level of tenacity, whether he’s right or wrong.
Elon Musk’s rocket ride|Andrew Nusca|December 2, 2020|Fortune

In the intervening months since the pandemic took hold, the industry has repeatedly demonstrated its tenacity.
Deep Dive: How the future of publishing is taking shape in the ongoing coronavirus crisis era|Pierre Bienaimé|November 17, 2020|Digiday
Part of this tenacity, says McDaniel, seems born of his own struggle.
Fighting Ebola With Nothing but Hope|Abby Haglage|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kim approached her career with tenacity and sincerity; any sort of coolness, remove, or privacy was not a luxury she could afford.
Kim Kardashian Isn't the Butt of Jokes Anymore|Amy Zimmerman|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Duran believe that patience and tenacity helped things progress this far and they will be required in order for continued success.
Helter Smelter No More: Moving to Conflict Free Minerals|Intel|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes this tenacity breaks its bounds, spilling into the primitive.
Luis Suarez, Uruguay’s Notorious Soccer Vampire, Strikes Again—Biting Italian in World Cup Win|Tunku Varadarajan|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Harding attacked her routines with a resilience and tenacity that reflected her training and upbringing.
ESPN’s ‘The Price of Gold’ Revisits the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Scandal|Amy Zimmerman|January 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He repairs to it with eagerness, and clings to it with a tenacity that time cannot relax, nor all the agonies of death dissolve.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
From six in the evening till twelve next day the grenadiers fought with stubborn tenacity.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Besides, he was willing to admit that there were excuses for Cassidy, and there was a certain quiet tenacity in him.
The Gold Trail|Harold Bindloss
Structural wrought iron has a tenacity of 20 to 22 tons per sq. in.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
And he pursued his thought with the tenacity of the drunkard, who concentrates upon one idea all the lucidity of mind left to him.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue