tenacious
/təˈneɪʃəs/ (bre, ipa) · /təˈneɪʃəs/ (ame, ipa) · /tə-ˈnā-shəs/ (ame, mw)
tenacious — adjective
- tenaciouspositive
- more tenaciouscomparative
- most tenacioussuperlative
1. describes someone who refuses to stop trying to achieve a goal or to change a be
describes someone who refuses to stop trying to achieve a goal or to change a belief, even when they face strong difficulties or opposition from others.
Minh was a tenacious reporter who spent three years investigating the corruption scandal.
tenacious + noun describing a person's character
The home team's tenacious defence kept their opponents from scoring a single goal.
tenacious + noun describing an action (defence)
After losing his job, Christopher remained tenacious in his search for new opportunities.
Adaeze's tenacious pursuit of justice earned her the respect of the entire community.
The lawyer was tenacious in defending her client's rights throughout the long trial.
- persistent
more neutral and common; less emotional than tenacious
- determined
focuses on firm intention rather than the effort of holding on
- dogged
more literary; emphasises never giving up despite difficulty
- unyielding
more formal; stresses refusal to be influenced or changed
- weak-willed
easily persuaded to give up
- irresolute
uncertain and unable to stick to a decision
文法句型
tenacious + noun (person or action)
tenacious in [noun/gerund]
tenacious of [noun]
用法筆記
Unlike stubborn, which usually carries a negative meaning of foolish or unreasonable refusal to change, tenacious is often positive — it praises a person's admirable determination and steady effort.
常見錯誤
2. continues to exist, stay active, or have an impact for much longer than usual, s
continues to exist, stay active, or have an impact for much longer than usual, surviving attempts to remove or end it.
Tenacious old traditions still influence the way people celebrate festivals in the village.
tenacious + noun (tradition)
Sayaka had a tenacious cough that lasted for three weeks after she caught the flu.
tenacious + noun describing a persistent condition
The tenacious belief that hard work alone guarantees success is common in many cultures.
A tenacious weed kept growing back no matter how many times Ignacio pulled it out.
Even after the factory closed, a tenacious rumour about buried gold continued to spread.
- persistent
more general; can describe both good and bad things that last
- enduring
more formal; suggests lasting importance or value
- long-lasting
more informal and direct; less emphatic than tenacious
- short-lived
lasting only a brief time
- fading
becoming weaker or disappearing
文法句型
tenacious + abstract noun
用法筆記
Use this sense for things (traditions, problems, rumours, plants) that refuse to go away. Do not use it for people — for a person who keeps trying, use sense 1 instead.
常見錯誤
3. describes a physical substance that sticks firmly to surfaces or holds itself to
describes a physical substance that sticks firmly to surfaces or holds itself together so tightly that it is hard to separate.
Tenacious mud stuck to Joaquín's boots, making each step feel heavier.
tenacious + noun describing a substance (mud)
A tenacious glue held the broken vase together for years before it finally came apart.
tenacious + noun (glue)
Tenacious sap from the pine tree clung to Selim's fingers and would not wash off.
Some desert plants have tenacious roots that grip the rocks even during powerful storms.
Old paint can be tenacious and require a strong remover to come off.
文法句型
tenacious + noun (substance or material)
用法筆記
This physical sense is less common in everyday conversation than senses 1 and 2. It appears more often in technical writing about materials, adhesives, soils, or plant biology.
4. having the ability to remember facts, people, experiences, or information clearl
having the ability to remember facts, people, experiences, or information clearly and for a long time.
Anita had a tenacious memory and could recall conversations from over forty years ago.
tenacious memory — the core collocation
Élise had a tenacious memory for historical dates and never needed to check a calendar.
tenacious memory for [topic]
Actors with a tenacious memory can learn an entire play script in a single evening.
Kabir had a tenacious memory for faces and never forgot someone he had met.
Thanks to her tenacious memory, Amira could still recite poems she had learned in early school.
- retentive
more technical; almost exclusively used with 'memory'
- photographic
informal; suggests perfect, detailed recall; more dramatic than tenacious
- forgetful
tending to forget things easily
文法句型
tenacious memory
tenacious memory for [topic]
用法筆記
This sense is the narrowest — it only modifies 'memory' or, occasionally, 'mind.' Do not use it directly for a person's character (that is sense 1). 'A tenacious student' means a determined student, not one with a good memory.