Never-say-die
adj.resilient, hopefulplayful
What it means
Showing determined optimism and an unwillingness to give up.
Reach for it when praising determined optimism when continued effort is wise and welcome
The captain's never-say-die spirit carried the team through extra time.
Choose between these
8- playful
when someone remains willing to try despite difficulty
not when Game is very informal and can sound flippant about serious adversity.
- playful
when energy and spirit keep returning
not when Irrepressible can imply a lively personality rather than commitment to a goal.
- warm
when setbacks have not reduced courage
not when Undaunted concerns fear and morale, not whether effort continues.
- professional
when repeated effort is the observable quality
not when Persistence can continue mechanically without hope, adaptability, or good judgment.
- professional
when sustained grip on a worthwhile goal matters
not when Tenacious can sound unwelcome when persistence ignores consent or changing evidence.
- formal
when firm purpose is more important than upbeat tone
not when Resolute is sober and does not carry never-say-die's optimism.
- literary
when a spirit cannot be subdued by hardship
not when Indomitable is grand and may overstate ordinary persistence.
- literary
when dignity remains intact after defeat or pressure
not when Unbowed describes bearing, not active renewed effort.
Said against
4- defeated
- discouraged
- resigned
- quit
It naturally appears in
3- never-say-die attitude
Their never-say-die attitude kept the search going through the final hour.
- never-say-die spirit
A never-say-die spirit helped the team rebuild after relegation.
- never-say-die effort
The volunteers' never-say-die effort reopened the hall before winter.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective sense: refusing to admit defeat opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.