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as relentless as a pitbull

as relentless as a pitbull

8.2
Very determined and unwilling to give up when trying to reach a goal
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : tan implacable como un pitbull
  • She was as relentless as a pitbull in her pursuit of justice.

Examples

  • You have to be as relentless as a pitbull to succeed in this competitive industry.

  • Our lawyer was as relentless as a pitbull in court, never backing down.

  • When it comes to finding the truth, she is as relentless as a pitbull.

  • His as relentless as a pitbull attitude helped him succeed.

  • Our lawyer was as relentless as a pitbull during the trial, always fighting for our case.

  • She is as relentless as a pitbull when it comes to achieving her fitness goals.

  • To win the championship, the team needed to be as relentless as a pitbull in their training.

Synonyms

aggressive
vsas relentless as a pitbull
248 3.6

Determined and energetic in trying to reach goals

is relentless but less about forceful methods
relentless
vsas relentless as a pitbull
131 5.1

Keeps going without stopping and stays very strong

is similar but centers more on single-minded goal chasing
adamant
vsas relentless as a pitbull
72 6.8

Not willing to change one's mind even when others disagree

is more about active pursuit and effort to reach aims
persistent
vsas relentless as a pitbull
43 4.4

Continuing with an action despite problems or opposition

emphasizes an extreme, unyielding drive toward overcoming obstacles
hell-bent
vsas relentless as a pitbull
  • Informal
32 7.5

Extremely determined to do something no matter the danger or cost

keeps determined focus but without the reckless, careless element
tireless
vsas relentless as a pitbull
29 3.8

Has a lot of energy and keeps working without stopping

stresses an uncompromising drive to achieve rather than just energy
tenacious
vsas relentless as a pitbull
22 7.1

Continuing to try to reach a goal and not giving up easily

adds extra forcefulness in pursuing goals beyond simple firmness
stubborn
vsas relentless as a pitbull
16 3.3

Hard to remove or cure even after trying

adds the sense of actively chasing goals rather than mere difficulty to remove
inexorable
vsas relentless as a pitbull
  • Formal
11 8.6

Impossible to stop or change

is human determination focused on goals rather than abstract inevitability
indomitable
vsas relentless as a pitbull
11 8.1

Someone very determined and brave who cannot be defeated

focuses more narrowly on relentless pursuit rather than brave spirit
unyielding
vsas relentless as a pitbull
10 6.5

Very firm in decisions and not willing to change or give up

adds the idea of energetic pursuit of goals beyond mere firmness
implacable
vsas relentless as a pitbull
  • Formal
9 8.6

Not able to be calmed and showing firm, unchanging anger or opposition

is target-focused persistence rather than hostile, unpacifiable opposition
indefatigable
vsas relentless as a pitbull
  • Formal
5 9.3

Always continuing to work without becoming tired

is about unyielding resolve especially in reaching or overcoming goals
obdurate
vsas relentless as a pitbull
3 8.8

A person who refuses to change their opinion or behaviour even when others try to persuade them

focuses more on relentless effort to overcome obstacles rather than mere stubbornness
unflagging
vsas relentless as a pitbull
3 7.5

Always having energy and not giving up

places more weight on active pursuit of a specific goal
dogged
vsas relentless as a pitbull
1 4.7

Being very determined and refusing to give up

is more about firm refusal to yield while chasing a goal
perseverant
vsas relentless as a pitbull
1 4.8

To keep trying to do something despite problems

is stronger, implying an almost unstoppable will to succeed
untiring
vsas relentless as a pitbull
3.9

Able to keep working with steady energy for a long time

leans more toward stubborn, focused pursuit against obstacles
like a dog in the hunt
vsas relentless as a pitbull
  • Informal
9.6

Very eager and determined to get something

keeps the same fierce pursuit but implies a specific hunting image
as stubborn as an anvil
vsas relentless as a pitbull
  • Informal
9.2

Refusing to change an opinion even when people give reasons

is oriented toward active pursuit and overcoming obstacles rather than mere resistance
as fierce as a mad dog
vsas relentless as a pitbull
  • Informal
9.1

Very angry and ready to attack

is determined but not necessarily aggressive or threatening toward others

Antonyms

16 4.3

Slow to choose and unsure about what to do

4.8

Willing to agree easily and give up their own view

How Determined

as relentless as a pitbull
  • Informal
8.2
relentless
131 5.1
persistent
43 4.4
determined
399 2.5
halfhearted
4 4.3
unmotivated
8 4.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

as + relentless + as + a + pitbull

The simile structure 'as ... as' plus the adjective 'relentless' and the animal 'pitbull' yields a directly inferable meaning: very determined and tenacious. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily map the dog's stereotypical persistence/aggressiveness to the adjective, so the sense is compositional and transparent (though the exact cultural shade of 'pitbull' may add nuance).

Etymology

As relentless as a pitbull comes from the image of a pitbull dog that holds on and keeps trying without stopping, even when things are hard. That's why people use it to say someone is 'extremely determined' and will not give up.