a tenacious effort

USAGE SUMMARY

"a tenacious effort" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a relentless determination and effort to reach a goal; for example, "The team put in a tenacious effort to win the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Having overshadowed the Lakers' playoff chase, at least momentarily, Bryant left his teammates to fend for themselves against San Antonio, and they cobbled together a tenacious effort.

The New York Times - Sports

It is also the culmination of a tenacious effort by Edward R. Kimmel, son of the late admiral, to restore the reputation of his father and General Short.

The New York Times

As Dileep Premachandran said in a 2005 piece titled "Hard times, and irreversible declines": "He made two centuries against the mighty West Indies in 1987-88, retiring hurt after a tenacious effort at Kolkata.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The judge called the FDA's efforts a "tenacious drive to maximize its regulatory power". In a statement, the FDA said it was reviewing the ruling.

The Washington Post

For a timeline of Vittana's tenacious effort to open access to tertiary schools around the world, click here.

Huffington Post

But behind 27 points from Richard Hamilton and a tenacious defensive effort, the Huskies earned a 77-74 victory and their first national title.

The New York Times - Sports

With a slowed-down pace of offensive play and a tenacious defensive effort, Tillman utilized the same game plan Pietramala installed back in 2007 that led those Blue Jays to a national title.

The New York Times

This title is an account of their tenacious efforts to shape a political future separate from other Micronesian peoples, of the negotiations that produced the Covenant defining the commonwealth relationship, and its eventual approval by the Northern Marianas people and the US Congress.

Stanford University

But the Bulls would not include Joakim Noah in a deal, and Anthony did not want to sign a contract extension with the Nets despite their tenacious efforts to acquire him.

The New York Times - Sports

We must maintain firmer belief and make more tenacious efforts in order to seize a new victory for socialism with Chinese characteristics".

BBC

And for a time, the United States, through the historic and tenacious efforts of Secretary of State Kerry, were focused on trying to reach a bilateral negotiated agreement with the Russians.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "a tenacious effort" with verbs that indicate progress or achievement, such as 'yielded results', 'led to success', or 'overcame obstacles'.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "a tenacious effort" in everyday, less significant situations can sound overly formal or dramatic. Opt for simpler phrases like "a strong effort" or "hard work" when the context doesn't warrant such emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tenacious effort" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject complement. It describes a specific instance of determined and persistent action. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tenacious effort" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe persistent and determined action towards a goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most appropriate for formal contexts, particularly in News & Media, where acknowledging sustained dedication is valuable. While synonyms like "a determined endeavor" or "a persistent attempt" offer variety, the key is to reserve "a tenacious effort" for situations that genuinely reflect unwavering resolve. Its relative infrequency suggests a deliberate choice for impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a determined endeavor

Replaces "tenacious" with "determined" and "effort" with "endeavor", emphasizing resolve and purpose.

a persistent attempt

Substitutes "tenacious" with "persistent" and "effort" with "attempt", highlighting the continuous nature of the action.

a resolute undertaking

Replaces "tenacious" with "resolute" and "effort" with "undertaking", focusing on firm decision and commitment.

an unwavering campaign

Changes to "unwavering campaign", suggesting a sustained and focused series of actions.

a steadfast pursuit

Replaces with "steadfast pursuit", implying a consistent and dedicated chase of a goal.

a relentless drive

Changes to "relentless drive", emphasizing the continuous and forceful nature of the action.

a tireless struggle

Substitutes with "tireless struggle", highlighting the exhausting and difficult nature of the effort.

an assiduous application

Replaces with "assiduous application", focusing on diligent and careful attention to the task.

a spirited push

Changes to "spirited push", suggesting an energetic and enthusiastic attempt.

a vigorous exertion

Replaces with "vigorous exertion", emphasizing the physical or mental energy expended.

FAQs

How can I use "a tenacious effort" in a sentence?

You can use "a tenacious effort" to describe someone's persistent and determined actions to achieve a goal. For example: "The team made "a tenacious effort" to win the championship."

What are some synonyms for "a tenacious effort"?

Similar phrases include "a determined endeavor", "a persistent attempt", or "a resolute undertaking".

Is it appropriate to use "a tenacious effort" in formal writing?

Yes, "a tenacious effort" is suitable for formal writing, especially when describing significant achievements or challenges overcome with persistent dedication.

What's the difference between "a tenacious effort" and "a strong effort"?

"A tenacious effort" implies a more persistent and determined approach than "a strong effort", suggesting resilience and unwillingness to give up despite difficulties.