pertinacious
Adjective
Hard difficulty
What does “pertinacious” mean?
adjective.holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action.
SAT Usage
this word typically appears in passages discussing determination, resolve, or stubbornness in the face of challenges. It emphasizes an unwavering commitment to a belief or action, distinguishing itself from similar words like "tenacious," which implies persistence but may not carry the same connotation of obstinacy or inflexibility.
Common Confusions
Pertinacious implies an unwavering stubbornness in holding to a belief, while tenacious usually suggests persistence and determination without the same level of inflexibility.
Example Sentences
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The pertinacious journalist refused to drop the investigation.
Word Parts: How to Remember “pertinacious”
Break “pertinacious” into its parts: per- (through, thoroughly) + -ten- (hold, keep). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.
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Prefix:
per-through, thoroughly (Latin) -
Root:
-ten-hold, keep (Latin)