dogged

adjective

dog·​ged ˈdȯ-gəd How to pronounce dogged (audio)
Synonyms of doggednext
: marked by stubborn determination
a dogged competitor
dogged devotion
doggedly adverb
doggedness noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for dogged

obstinate, dogged, stubborn, pertinacious, mulish mean fixed and unyielding in course or purpose.

obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence.

an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories

dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence.

pursued the story with dogged perseverance

stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable.

a person too stubborn to admit error

pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence.

a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer

mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.

a mulish determination to have his own way

Examples of dogged in a Sentence

Her dogged efforts eventually paid off. a dogged pursuit of power
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Such stories take a lot of time, resources, and expertise, and the Tucker allegations do not come to light without the dogged work of the Baltimore Banner. — Richard Deitsch, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025 That’s repetition as the dogged pursuit of an ideal. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2025 In terms of financial resources, the McCormack family is far outmatched, but over the past ten years, Abrams has mounted a dogged campaign on their behalf. — Nick Tabor, Curbed, 11 Apr. 2025 This glimpse into prehistory is possible thanks to two tiny fossil footprints and the dogged work of an undergraduate intern at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument with a particular interest in ancient tracks, known as trace fossils. — Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dogged

Word History

Etymology

see dog entry 1

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dogged was in 1700

Rhymes for dogged

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Browse Nearby Words

dogfoot
dogged
dogger
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Cite this Entry

“Dogged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogged. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

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Kids Definition

dogged

adjective
dog·​ged ˈdȯ-gəd How to pronounce dogged (audio)
: stubbornly determined : tenacious
in dogged pursuit of power
doggedly adverb
doggedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dogged

Nglish: Translation of dogged for Spanish Speakers

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