doggedness

American  

[daw-gid-nis, dog-id-] / ˈdɔ gɪd nɪs, ˈdɒg ɪd- /

noun

1. persistence in effort; tenacity or perseverance.

   It was the team captain’s doggedness and never-say-die approach that helped us qualify for the Olympics.

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Etymology

Origin of doggedness

dogged ¹ ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Doggedness is a quality of being stubborn and persistent, like the doggedness of a skateboarder attempting a new trick over and over again until they get it just right. When this word was first used in the 14th century, it meant "with the qualities of a dog," but not in a good way — to be dogged was to act nasty or surly, and doggedness was a quality of cruelty, like a really mean dog might have. Both words evolved over the years and now imply persistence and tenacity, like a dog digging determinedly for a bone it has buried in the yard.

Example Sentences

But, just as Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest discovered here in August, United retain some of the old doggedness from the Sir Alex Ferguson days.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2023

Those numbers could be gathered in any number of means, each of which was in its own way a test of your resourcefulness, doggedness and the trust you’d earned.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2023

Often underestimated by his opponents and sometimes by his supporters, Sanchez gained a reputation for doggedness when, as opposition leader in 2016, he stuck to his "no means no" mantra against enabling a conservative government.

From Reuters • Jul. 6, 2023

Grabbing a piece of fabric is often the only way teammates can fight back against the disruptiveness that comes from Clark’s quickness, instincts and, well, doggedness.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2023

Covering more than fifty encryption systems, the book testifies to the doggedness and ingenuity of Elizebeth and her team.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield