dogged 1 of 2

1
2
3

dogged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dog

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dogged distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of dogged are mulish, obstinate, pertinacious, and stubborn. While all these words mean "fixed and unyielding in course or purpose," dogged suggests an admirable often tenacious and unwavering persistence.

pursued the story with dogged perseverance

When is mulish a more appropriate choice than dogged?

The meanings of mulish and dogged largely overlap; however, mulish implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy.

a mulish determination to have his own way

In what contexts can obstinate take the place of dogged?

The words obstinate and dogged are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obstinate implies usually an unreasonable persistence.

an obstinate proponent of conspiracy theories

When might pertinacious be a better fit than dogged?

While in some cases nearly identical to dogged, pertinacious suggests an annoying or irksome persistence.

a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer

When can stubborn be used instead of dogged?

The synonyms stubborn and dogged are sometimes interchangeable, but stubborn implies sturdiness in resisting change which may or may not be admirable.

a person too stubborn to admit error

Examples 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 dogged
Adjective
Your Complete Guide to Pilots and Straight-to-Series orders See All Written by Prendergast, the hourlong Pennies is about a reclusive forensic pathologist named Penny who is more comfortable with the bodies under her (dogged) care than with real people. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024 Though the Dodgers reportedly had the most funds available to spend on the 2024 class, Sasaki’s apparent shift to the 2025 class should not sway much in what is expected to be a dogged pursuit of the Japanese right-hander. Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
At the same time, he could be dogged in pursuit of the right work, especially at auction. Ted Loos, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024 As the year ends, Netanyahu is spending some of it in a courtroom to fight corruption charges that have dogged him since 2019. NPR, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dogged 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogged
Adjective
  • Interest rates and the overall investment climate The persistent elevation of interest rates has reshaped the investment landscape, forcing companies to rethink growth strategies over the past years.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The persistent decline in China’s 10-year government bond yield — to record lows around 1.58% this month— prompted the People’s Bank of China on Jan. 10 to stop its government bond purchases .
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The stubborn machine has won, and politicians are, for the most part, just fodder, which means that every politician who has to stand in front of a camera after a tragedy turns into another battle site in an endless culture war.
    Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Coaches will tell you of a character who could be grumpy or stubborn, but also of someone who needed faith shown in him.
    The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The start of the ceasefire will be a reprieve for Gazans who have endured 15 months of relentless Israeli strikes, which have reduced much of the enclave to rubble.
    Mick Krever, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Sports High School Sports Four reach double figures to lead Cavaliers, who get a strong finish from senior guard Kam Carter UPDATED: January 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM EST Spalding senior guard Kam Carter sealed a win over St. Frances with two relentless finishes at the basket in the closing minutes.
    Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The space between each joke section becomes a palpable downshift into Wood’s more serious mode, with each of them insistent on returning to the same thought.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025
  • An insistent focus on pointing out misinformation may even inflate the scale of the problem—to the benefit of what the writer Joseph Bernstein has labelled Big Disinfo, and to the detriment of a publication’s appeal to uncommitted readers.
    Fergus McIntosh, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • On the other hand, the group is adamant that its FPV drones are wholly homegrown.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
  • David Poole is adamant that the sales team is always upfront about the risks as well as upsides of investing.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Thousands of miles away from their home in Philadelphia, Sara is determined to keep heading westward to meet Devin’s father in the California town of Crook Springs.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025
  • But his usual determined and diligent work led to an August 2024 return with impressive results, albeit in a relief/opener role, where he was limited to two innings and didn’t throw more than 38 pitches in an outing.
    Marc Topkin, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Prosecutors in the first four months of 2024 pursued nearly 19,000 soldiers, who either abandoned their posts or deserted, according to the Ukrainian parliament.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Wreckage, oil and human remains washed up on beaches from South Florida to Long Island, New York, and horrified civilians watched from Atlantic City’s boardwalk as German subs pursued and sank merchant ships in broad daylight.
    David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Earlier in December, Pope Benedict XV urged a holiday truce.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
  • In an age where we are constantly urged to do more and be always connected, deliberately seeking out silence can feel like an act of rebellion.
    Richard E. Cytowic, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near dogged

Cite this Entry

“Dogged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogged. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dogged

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!