resist

1 of 2

verb

re·​sist ri-ˈzist 

resisted; resisting; resists

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

intransitive verb

: to exert force in opposition

I know I shouldn't, but I can't resist.

resist

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

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

Synonyms of resist

Verb

• oppose
• withstand
• fight

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

During the arrest, Guerrero-Chavez began resisting, even slipping out of her handcuffs and attempting to run back to her vehicle, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026

That leaves more room for the parts of festival life that resist scheduling. — Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded with unusual restraint to Trump’s provocations and has resisted demands to pull away from Washington. — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026

More than 600 organizations urge Congress to block an administration plan to rewrite federal law and to resist the president’s unilateral moves to change historic sites. — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026

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

1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for resist

• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• consist
• desist
• dismissed
• enlist
• exist
• insist
• oocyst
• persist

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