Word
tenacity
Phoneticstenac·i·ty
US/təˈnæsɪti/
UK/tɛnˈæsɪti/
Definition
n. the quality of being very determined and not giving up, even when things are difficult. It is like having a strong grip on a goal.
n. the quality of being persistent or determined; the ability to maintain a firm hold on a purpose or action despite obstacles. Often used to describe mental or emotional strength.
Examples
“Her tenacity helped her finish the marathon despite the pain.”
“The detective's tenacity eventually led to the discovery of new evidence that had been overlooked for years.”
“While talent may open the initial door to opportunity, it is often sheer tenacity that determines whether an individual can sustain a career in such a competitive and volatile industry.”
Examples
simple
“Her tenacity helped her finish the marathon despite the pain.”
contextual
“The detective's tenacity eventually led to the discovery of new evidence that had been overlooked for years.”
complex
“While talent may open the initial door to opportunity, it is often sheer tenacity that determines whether an individual can sustain a career in such a competitive and volatile industry.”
Usage
Uncountable in its abstract sense; frequently paired with the preposition 'of' or used as a subject for verbs like 'pay off'.
Real-World Examples
“This is achieved by focusing on challenging activities that both test and stretch a young person's comfort zones, developing tenacity, inner strength and different pathways in the brain.” “In Ashington folklore it was told that Jackie kicked the same stone to school and back for three years, and his one-time teammate Len Shackleton was always impressed by his tenacity and “never-say-die spirit”.” Etymology
From tenac(ious) + -ity, from Middle French ténacité, from Latin tenācitās.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/tenacity