Synonyms

tenacity

American

[tuh-nas-i-tee] / təˈnæs ɪ ti /

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.

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.

Smart’s tenacity was a key ingredient to the defensive effort that locked down the Knicks and Timberwolves, and James, revered by coaches and teammates for his defensive communication, stepped up to anchor the defense too.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

It’s impossible to watch “All the President’s Men” and not feel inspired by Woodward and Bernstein’s tenacity.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

Rising per capita income and human-development indicators on her watch prompted talk of the “Bangladesh miracle”: A once dirt-poor land racked by natural disasters joining the ranks of middle-income countries through grit and tenacity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

“While I am saddened for the victims, I am proud of the diligence and tenacity of our officers and detectives to take him into custody in less than 48 hours.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

Some newspapers that initially criticized the picketers came to respect their tenacity and sincerity.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023