French word

tenace

Pronunciation

IPA/tənas/

Meaning

  • adjectivepersistent

Example

Elle est tenace et n'abandonne jamais.

She is persistent and never gives up.

Illustration for tenace (persistent)

More examples

Cette panne est tenace et difficile à résoudre.

This breakdown is persistent and difficult to resolve.

Core concept

A grip that keeps its hold long after it should let go, whether on a surface or in the mind.

Common phrases

  • une volonté tenace

    a tenacious will

  • problème tenace

    a persistent problem

Similar words

persévérant: Persisting patiently in efforts to achieve a goal.
obstiné: Stubbornly holding to a personal view or decision.
collant: Sticking firmly to things or surfaces and hard to detach.
persistant: Lasting over time and resisting efforts to eliminate it.

Definition in French

Qui reste fortement attaché, au sens propre (saleté, odeur difficile à enlever) ou au sens figuré (habitude, souvenir), et qui ne disparaît pas facilement.

Word origin

French tenace comes from Latin tenax, related to tenere, 'to hold', and keeps the old idea of holding firmly.

Usage tips

  • Tenace has the same form for masculine and feminine singular nouns, as in un élève tenace and une élève tenace.

Other meanings

  • stubbornadjective

Opposites

  • irrésoluindecisiveadjective

Related words

  • ténacitétenacitynoun

Word lists with this word