English Meaning & Definitions
Tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging persistently or refusing to let go, either physically or metaphorically.
- “The terrier had a tenacious grip on the rubber toy and refused to let go.”
- “She earned a reputation as a tenacious journalist who never stopped investigating corruption.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “tenacious”.
Derived from the Latin 'tenax' (holding fast), from 'tenere' (to hold), combined with the suffix '-ious' (characterized by). It originally referred to physical substances that stick firmly together (adhesive or cohesive), but over time, the meaning evolved metaphorically to describe a firm, unyielding hold on goals, opinions, or principles.
Think of a TENT that is viciously stubborn in a storm; it holds on tightly and refuses to blow away—it is tenacious.
Frequently Asked Questions About “tenacious”
1. What is the meaning of “tenacious” in English?
In English, tenacious (adjective) is defined as: “Tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging persistently or refusing to let go, either physically or metaphorically.”.
2. How do you use “tenacious” in a sentence?
“The terrier had a tenacious grip on the rubber toy and refused to let go.”
3. What are English synonyms of “tenacious”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “tenacious”?
Derived from the Latin 'tenax' (holding fast), from 'tenere' (to hold), combined with the suffix '-ious' (characterized by). It originally referred to physical substances that stick firmly together (adhesive or cohesive), but over time, the meaning evolved metaphorically to describe a firm, unyielding hold on goals, opinions, or principles.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.