Meaning & use
perseverate
To repeat a thought, word, or action persistently, often beyond what is useful or appropriate.
See it in a sentence
The therapist noted that the patient tended to perseverate on a single worry for hours.
Children with certain conditions may perseverate on a topic long after others have moved on.
A note on using this word
Perseverate is mainly a clinical or psychological term, distinct from 'persevere,' which means to keep trying despite difficulty.
Words with a similar meaning
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