tenacity
Americannoun
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the quality of being tenacious, or of holding fast; persistence.
the amazing tenacity of rumors.
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the quality of retaining something.
the tenacity of memory.
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the quality or property of holding together firmly.
testing the tenacity of the old book's binding.
Related Words
See perseverance.
Other Word Forms
- overtenacity noun
Etymology
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 ( def. )
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.
"One key thing that stood out was his tenacity. As well as the skillset, he would throw his body into everything and get stuck in defensively. It made him stand out amongst other number tens."
From BBC
Together, they constitute what Ukraine lacks to turn the strategic advantage already granted by its tenacity and heroism into victory.
At the time, the governor said in a statement that “her insight, tenacity, and big heart will be missed.”
From Los Angeles Times
They lacked tenacity without the ball and seemed slow when they were in possession.
From BBC
He argued with righteous tenacity that Southerners could be convinced to relinquish their slaves by means of patient “moral suasion.”
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.
