resilient

re·sil·ient

adj \ri-ˈzil-yənt\

Definition of RESILIENT

: characterized or marked by resilience: as a : capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture b : tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

— re·sil·ient·ly adverb

Examples of RESILIENT

1. The local economy is remarkably resilient.
2. <after being dipped in liquid nitrogen, the rubber ball's normally resilient surface is as brittle as ceramic>
3. The tallow tree, an ornamental species introduced by Benjamin Franklin in 1772, can quickly grow to 10 metres and is resilient to many pests. —New Scientist, 19-25 Aug. 2006
4. In this affecting and eloquent account of the Dew family members' attempts to come to terms with the homosexuality of the elder son … Stephen emerges as a remarkably resilient and self-aware young man. —Genevieve Stuttaford, Publishers Weekly, 18 Apr. 1994
5. Scientists are trying to figure out how the complex structure of such crystals and polymers and their interactions on the molecular level lead to resilient materials like sea shells, teeth and bones. —JoAnn Shroyer, Quark, Critters and Chaos, 1993
6. Old roses are tough and resilient; they may be a little loose and blowzy … but the fact remains, these bushes want to live. —Beverly Lowry, New York Times Book Review, 3 Dec. 1989
7. Hot-dipped nails have a resilient, thick zinc jacket that withstands more of the perils of a nail's life. —Jim Locke, The Apple Corps Guide to the Well-Built House, 1988

Origin of RESILIENT

Latin resilient-, resiliens, present participle of resilire to jump back, recoil, from re- + salire to leap — more at sally

First Known Use: 1674

Related to RESILIENT

Synonyms: bouncy, flexible, elastic, rubberlike, rubbery, springy, stretch, stretchable, stretchy, supple, whippy

Antonyms: inelastic, inflexible, nonelastic, rigid, stiff

Related Words: adaptable, ductile, kneadable, malleable, moldable, plastic, pliable, pliant; limber, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, willowy

Near Antonyms: compact, firm, hard, solid, unyielding; brittle, crisp, crumbly, flaky (also flakey), friable, short

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See Synonym Discussion at elastic