tenacity

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tenacity distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of tenacity are courage, mettle, resolution, and spirit. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

When can courage be used instead of tenacity?

While the synonyms courage and tenacity are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When is mettle a more appropriate choice than tenacity?

The synonyms mettle and tenacity are sometimes interchangeable, but mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

Where would resolution be a reasonable alternative to tenacity?

Although the words resolution and tenacity have much in common, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When is it sensible to use spirit instead of tenacity?

The meanings of spirit and tenacity largely overlap; however, spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tenacity Though these interests do not explicitly denote political affiliation, White and his protégés see Trump’s wealth and tenacity as evidence of his excellence. Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024 Your dedication and tenacity will encourage others to give you the space necessary to complete your mission. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024 Developing Tenacity Over Time Building tenacity in the workplace isn’t something that happens overnight. Nandini Sankara, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 Without your loyalty and tenacity Chucky would never have endured for thirty years! Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tenacity 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenacity
Noun
  • Experts pin our collective fascination on the usual suspects: selfie culture, the persistence of Zoom, and the popularization of procedures aimed at improving the geometry of our jawlines.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024
  • The persistence of elevated price levels amid slowing inflation may explain why consumers remain relatively dour about the economy, Jeffrey Frankel, an economist at Harvard University, told ABC News.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.
    Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 2 May 2023
  • Dan recalled of his daughter’s persistency.
    Eric Sondheimer Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2020
Noun
  • However, spending an hourglass boosts your stamina and shortens the wait time.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024
  • The caffeine high felt from drinking coffee comes from adrenaline and cortisol running through your body, which provides you with stamina and euphoria.
    Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • This guide will break down the car accident laws every driver should know, from fault determination to insurance requirements, legal liabilities, and what to do following an accident.
    Nia Bowers, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Few modern artists do so much to persuade us that creative endeavor is a struggle—an anxious wrestling with the stubborn materials to hand, and a determination to plow on.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near tenacity

Cite this Entry

“Tenacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenacity. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on tenacity

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