PERSISTENT Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

persistent

adjective

pər-ˈsi-stənt

Definition of persistent

as in insistent

continuing despite difficulties, opposition, or discouragement although his first attempts were singularly unsuccessful, he was persistent in his pursuit of a career in rock music

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of persistent There’s limited evidence that today’s wearable massagers treat the underlying cause of persistent neck pain. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026 According to 2025 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of youth have persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness — about 10% more than a decade earlier. — Darius Tahir, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Both remained near multi-decade highs amid concerns over persistent inflation and elevated government borrowing. — Sean Conlon,alex Harring, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 And there is an affordability crisis compounded by persistent inflation, cratering economic data, plummeting consumer confidence, and weak jobs growth. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for persistent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for persistent

Adjective

Del Toro was insistent that the texture and grain of the original movie, which was shot on film, remain.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
In 2016, Senator Bernie Sanders shocked the Democratic establishment by running a close race against Hillary Clinton for the Party’s Presidential nomination, thanks to his insistent focus on income and wealth inequality.

— Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of insistent

Adjective

Earlier, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller suggested that more interest rate rises may be needed to tackle stubborn inflation, which has stayed above the Fed's 2% target for more than five years.

— Hugh Leask,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
The apparent disconnect between a recovery in oil supply and stubborn fuel prices has drawn attention from analysts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

Western and Asian governments feared the tenacious insurgencies could help foster Islamic extremism in Southeast Asia.

— Teresa Cerojano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Enciso can be the bustling out-ball, the tenacious, front-footed defender and provide the moments of individual brilliance to get Ipswich out of the relegation trouble many anticipate.

— David Ornstein, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of tenacious

Adjective

Fineman is set to play Parker Quinn, a sports reporter for a top publication who’s known as a dogged reporter with a passion for her beat.

— Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026
One of the hallmarks of the series is its dogged attention to detail, an aspect of storyboarding infinitely complicated by the non-linear nature of the episodes and the vast number of years Lestat’s life as a vampire spans.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2026

Definition of dogged

Adjective

The relentless spread of energy-hungry data centers is pushing demand higher still.

— Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026
The 16-track set is a truly thrilling journey through the relentless ambition and restless psyche of a young Black woman who’s dedicated her life to navigating the notoriously tumultuous music industry.

— Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of relentless

Adjective

As more telehealth sites prescribe these medications and pitch them as a way to lose weight while saving money, some patient advocates argue that more people like Kinkade will fall through the cracks of a broken regulatory system.

— Alana Semuels, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Its return to the market was initially accompanied by strict requirements for blood monitoring to ensure patient safety.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of patient

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persistency

persistent

persisting

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“Persistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persistent. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of persistent

adjective

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