Meaning & use
doggedly
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Meaning
adverbnot comparable
In a stubborn, determined way, refusing to give up despite difficulty.
Grammar: Goes with verbs of effort or pursuit: work doggedly, follow doggedly.
Patterns
- doggedly pursue something
- doggedly stick to something
She doggedly studied every night until she passed the exam.
The detective doggedly followed the lead for months.
He doggedly kept walking despite the blisters.
Common combinations
- doggedly pursue
- The reporter doggedly pursued the story.
- work doggedly
- The team worked doggedly through the night.
- doggedly determined
- She was doggedly determined to finish the race.
- doggedly persist
- He persisted doggedly despite repeated rejections.
- doggedly follow
- The detective doggedly followed every clue.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tenaciously
- Tenaciously is more formal and stresses holding firmly to a goal, while doggedly stresses plodding perseverance.
- stubbornly
- Stubbornly can mean refusing to change one's mind for no good reason, whereas doggedly is usually admired.
- persistently
- Persistently is neutral and can sound annoying, but doggedly adds effort and grit.
- relentlessly
- Relentlessly suggests never easing up and can feel harsh, while doggedly feels steadier and more human.
Opposites
Word family
- dogged adjective
- stubbornly determined
- doggedness noun
- stubborn, patient determination
- dog verb
- to follow closely or trouble someone persistently
Commonly confused: doggedly or doggy? doggedly or dodgy?
doggedly vs doggy
Doggy refers to dogs or is a child's word for a dog, and it has no link to determination.
doggedly vs dodgy
Dodgy is British slang for risky or untrustworthy, which differs completely from the admired persistence of dogged.
Practice
The volunteers worked ___ through the storm, refusing to stop until every sandbag was in place.
Choose one answer.
Doggedly describes determined effort despite obstacles. Lazily and carelessly describe the opposite attitude, and hesitantly suggests doubt.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “doggedly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.