resist

1 of 2

verb

re·​sist ri-ˈzist 

resisted; resisting; resists

intransitive verb

: to exert force in opposition

transitive verb

1

: to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat

he resisted temptation

2

: to withstand the force or effect of

material that resists heat

resist

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

: something (such as a coating) that protects against a chemical, electrical, or physical action

Synonyms

Verb

• buck
• defy
• fight
• oppose
• repel
• withstand

Choose the Right Synonym for resist

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something.

oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

Examples of resist in a Sentence

Verb

He was charged with resisting arrest.

These windows can resist very high winds.

The drug will help your body resist infection.

She couldn't resist telling us what she'd heard.

He was able to resist the urge to tell her his secret.

It was hard resisting the temptation to open the box.

The offer was hard to resist.

I know I shouldn't have any more cake, but I can't resist.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Others have the natural ability to resist and repel wrinkles. —Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024

Stallworth was arrested and later charged with obstruction, resisting arrest and eluding, the suit says. —Jonathan Franklin, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024

That anyone resisted its plaintive lucidity is hard to imagine now—and that Judith got neither sufficient credit nor a raise or bonus commensurate with the profits is still a little shocking. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024

China and the European Union are the world’s two major markets and civilizations and should resist establishing blocs based on ideology. —Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

All four were charged with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration, while Ali and Yassein also face a trespassing charge. —Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 23 Apr. 2024

Still, the filmmaker — who said that his therapist, who had been listening to him talk about Durst for 20 years, was in attendance — couldn’t resist sharing one more anecdote about his early days with Durst. —Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Apr. 2024

That is a hint to one of the most important lessons of the Wintel saga and beyond: Protecting the incumbent business, even in a time of transition, is almost impossible to resist. —Bygeoff Colvin, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024

Advertisement The officers determine that Gonzalez is resisting and push him to the ground, the video shows. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resister, from Latin resistere, from re- + sistere to take a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

resist

verb

re·​sist

ri-ˈzist

1

: to fight against : oppose

resist temptation

2

: to withstand the force or effect of

material that resists water