Word
tenacious
Phoneticstena·cious
US/təˈneɪʃəs/
UK/tɛnˈeɪʃəs/
Definition
adj. refusing to give up or let go of something. You use this to describe someone who keeps trying very hard even when things are difficult.
adj. persistent in maintaining an adherence to a goal, belief, or physical grip. Often used to describe a person's character or the strength of a physical hold.
Examples
“She is a tenacious student who never stops asking questions.”
“The lawyer's tenacious questioning eventually forced the witness to admit the truth about the missing documents.”
“Despite facing repeated rejections from every major publisher, the author remained tenacious, eventually securing a deal that launched her career into the bestseller lists.”
Examples
simple
“She is a tenacious student who never stops asking questions.”
contextual
“The lawyer's tenacious questioning eventually forced the witness to admit the truth about the missing documents.”
complex
“Despite facing repeated rejections from every major publisher, the author remained tenacious, eventually securing a deal that launched her career into the bestseller lists.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after 'be' or 'remain', or attributively before a noun like 'grip', 'defense', or 'advocate'.
Real-World Examples
“But the argument that unsullied privacy is essential to creativity is tenacious.” “What looks as if it will be a cat-and-mouse story, in which a tenacious FBI agent hunts a twisted serial killer, quickly rips up any expectations.” Etymology
From Latin tenāx (“holding fast, clinging”), from tenēre (“to hold”), + -ious.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/tenacious