Tenacious: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Tenacious adjective. Holding firmly to something and refusing to give up.
How to say it
tih-NAY-shus/tɪˈneɪʃəs/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (NAY).
Tenacious in a sentence
A tenacious reporter spent four years chasing the story.
The ivy is so tenacious that it has prised the bricks apart.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- determined
- persistent
- dogged
- resolute
Opposite:
- irresolute
- half-hearted
Where tenacious comes from
From Latin tenax, holding fast, from tenere, to hold.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The ivy is so _____ that it has prised the bricks apart.
- tenacious
- obsequious
- cheese-paring
Show the answer
tenacious: The ivy is so tenacious that it has prised the bricks apart.