What does "tenacity" mean?
The quality or state of being tenacious, or persistence of purpose; tenaciousness.
Tenacity
/təˈnæs.ɪ.ti/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The quality or state of being tenacious, or persistence of purpose; tenaciousness.
- Grammar: tenacity is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: perseverance, persistence, adhesiveness, adhesiveness.
- Useful contrasts: abandonment, brittleness, capitulation.
- Usage evidence: I got over the difficulty with my characteristic tenacity.
How to use "tenacity"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tenacity" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tenacity" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tenacity" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tenacity" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tenacity" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "perseverance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tenacity", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The quality or state of being tenacious, or persistence of purpose; tenaciousness. countable, uncountable
"Like the Cuscus of the Moluccas, the Galeopithecus feeds chiefly on leaves, and possesses a very voluminous stomach and long convoluted intestines. The brain is very small, and the animal possesses such remarkable tenacity of life, that it is exceedingly difficult to kill it by any ordinary means."
- 2 persistent determination wordnet
- 3 The quality of bodies which keeps them from parting without considerable force, as distinguished from brittleness, fragility, mobility, etc. countable, uncountable
- 4 The effect of this attraction, cohesiveness. countable, uncountable
- 5 The quality of bodies which makes them adhere to other bodies; adhesiveness, viscosity. countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 The greatest longitudinal stress a substance can bear without tearing asunder, usually expressed with reference to a unit area of the cross section of the substance, as the number of pounds per square inch, or kilograms per square centimeter, necessary to produce rupture. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I got over the difficulty with my characteristic tenacity."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tenacity"?
Common synonyms include: perseverance, persistence, adhesiveness, adhesiveness, against all odds, application.
How do you use "tenacity" in a sentence?
I got over the difficulty with my characteristic tenacity.
How do you pronounce "tenacity"?
Pronounced /təˈnæs.ɪ.ti/.
Etymology
From tenac(ious) + -ity, from Middle French ténacité, from Latin tenācitās.