TENACIOUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tenacious mean? 

• TENACIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective TENACIOUS has 3 senses:

1. good at remembering

2. stubbornly unyielding

3. sticking together

  Familiarity information: TENACIOUS used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TENACIOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Good at remembering

Synonyms:

long; recollective; retentive; tenacious

Context example:

tenacious memory

Also:

aware; mindful (bearing in mind; attentive to)

Derivation:

tenaciousness (persistent determination)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Stubbornly unyielding

Synonyms:

dogged; dour; persistent; pertinacious; tenacious; unyielding

Context example:

men tenacious of opinion

Similar:

obstinate; stubborn; unregenerate (tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield)

Derivation:

tenaciousness; tenacity (persistent determination)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Sticking together

Synonyms:

coherent; tenacious

Context example:

tenacious burrs

Similar:

adhesive (tending to adhere)

 Context examples 

Her affections were not acute, nor was her mind tenacious.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

There was something tenacious about that lily-frail body of hers, a clutch on existence which one could not reconcile with its patent weakness.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Eight years! you must be tenacious of life.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That he may be safely trusted to do, for although he is absolutely devoid of reason, he is as tenacious as a bulldog when he once understands what he has to do, and, indeed, it is just this tenacity which has brought him to the top at Scotland Yard.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I may add that I walked out to the athletic grounds this morning, saw that tenacious black clay is used in the jumping-pit and carried away a specimen of it, together with some of the fine tan or sawdust which is strewn over it to prevent the athlete from slipping.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And one day when Anne was walking with only the Musgroves, one of them after talking of rank, people of rank, and jealousy of rank, said, I have no scruple of observing to you, how nonsensical some persons are about their place, because all the world knows how easy and indifferent you are about it; but I wish anybody could give Mary a hint that it would be a great deal better if she were not so very tenacious, especially if she would not be always putting herself forward to take place of mamma.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

In this coffer, his riches hid themselves with such a tenacious modesty, that the smallest instalments could only be tempted out by artifice; so that Peggotty had to prepare a long and elaborate scheme, a very Gunpowder Plot, for every Saturday's expenses.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

While earnestly wishing to erase from his mind the trace of my former offence, I had stamped on that tenacious surface another and far deeper impression, I had burnt it in.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Thus relieved of a grievous load, I from that hour set to work afresh, resolved to pioneer my way through every difficulty: I toiled hard, and my success was proportionate to my efforts; my memory, not naturally tenacious, improved with practice; exercise sharpened my wits; in a few weeks I was promoted to a higher class; in less than two months I was allowed to commence French and drawing.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)