te·na·cious

[tuh-ney-shuhs]
adjective
1.
holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (often followed by of ): a tenacious grip on my arm; tenacious of old habits.
2.
highly retentive: a tenacious memory.
3.
pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
4.
adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous.
5.
holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough.

Origin:
1600–10; tenaci(ty) + -ous

te·na·cious·ly, adverb
te·na·cious·ness, noun
o·ver·te·na·cious, adjective
o·ver·te·na·cious·ly, adverb
o·ver·te·na·cious·ness, noun
un·te·na·cious, adjective
un·te·na·cious·ly, adverb
un·te·na·cious·ness, noun


3. opinionated, dogged. 4. clinging.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
tenacious (tɪˈneɪʃəs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  holding or grasping firmly; forceful: a tenacious grip
2.  retentive: a tenacious memory
3.  stubborn or persistent: a tenacious character
4.  holding together firmly; tough or cohesive: tenacious cement
5.  tending to stick or adhere: tenacious mud
 
[C16: from Latin tenāx, from tenēre to hold]
 
te'naciously
 
adv
 
te'naciousness
 
n
 
tenacity
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

tenacious
c.1600, from L. tenaci-, from tenax "holding fast" (see tenacity). Related: Tenaciously.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

tenacious te·na·cious (tə-nā'shəs)
adj.

  1. Clinging to another object or surface; adhesive.

  2. Holding together firmly; cohesive.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
They can and should call for meaningful political change and increased
  sanctions, but this regime is strong and tenacious.
We will be tenacious problem solvers focused on customer satisfaction.
They start out with certain virtues but then develop more tenacious ones.
She is a leader in the state and national arts community and a tenacious
  advocate for the arts.
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