French Conversation · Level 141
30 words
French word
acharnement
Pronunciation
IPA/aʃaʁnəmɑ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounpersistence
Example
Son acharnement a fini par l'ennuyer.
His persistence eventually annoyed her.
More examples
L'acharnement à réussir l'a épuisé.
The unyielding drive to succeed exhausted him.
Core concept
Pressure applied again and again toward a goal, until persistence feels excessive or relentless.
Common phrases
acharnement à
unyielding drive to ___
acharnement contre
persistent attacks against ___
Similar words
insistance: Repeatedly urging the same demand or view until others accept it.
persévérance: Determined continuation toward a goal through obstacles and setbacks.
obstination: Firmly clinging to a personal belief or decision without changing.
Definition in French
Action ou attitude caractérisée par une insistance répétée et souvent excessive, montrant une volonté obstinée.
Word origin
The noun acharnement derives from acharner with the suffix -ment; acharner is historically linked to chair, or flesh, through the idea of directing an attack onto flesh.
Usage tips
- Acharnement often sounds critical rather than warmly admiring, so English determination is not always an exact equivalent.
Other meanings
- determinationnoun
- tenacitynoun
Opposites
- abandonrenunciationnoun
- indifférenceunconcernnoun
Related words
- acharnerpursue relentlesslyverb
- acharnétenaciousadjective
- acharnémentpersistentlyadverb