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
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. )
Explanation
Most people will tell you that tenacity is a great quality to have, especially if you're trying something challenging that takes a while to complete. Odds are, the people you admire have shown real tenacity in achieving their goals. Anything really worth doing takes persistence, perseverance, and stubborn determination. Being a great baseball player requires real gifts, no doubt, but even the most gifted player won't make it to the big leagues without the tenacity required to make the long, hard journey up from the minors. Tenacity is the quality displayed by someone who just won't quit — who keeps trying until they reach their goal.
Vocabulary lists containing tenacity
100 SAT Words Beginning with "T"
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The Bluest Eye
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The Help
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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.
“Live by two words: tenacity and gratitude. Tenacity will get you where you want to go, and gratitude will make you enjoy the journey, no matter how bumpy.”
From Salon • May 16, 2026
But while pundits praise her tenacity, her humility and her goalscoring impact, Blackstenius is not the perfect player.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
The latest round of reports on the economy underscore its tenacity — and suggest it’s likely to keep expanding.
From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026
“Overall, we view this transition as changing the ‘tone at the top’ but maintaining the same tenacity and vigor the industry has seen from an operational perspective,” wrote Evercore analyst Nicholas Amicucci in a note.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
Her tenacity and size were backed up by resourcefulness and creativity.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
