nonresistant
adjective
non·re·sis·tant
ˌnän-ri-ˈzi-stənt 
: not resistant
specifically
: susceptible to the effects of a deleterious agent (such as an insecticide, a pathogen, or an extreme environmental condition)
nonresistant
noun
Examples of nonresistant in a Sentence
the nonresistant arrest of most of the demonstrators
Recent Examples on the Web
When the new drug kills off the resistant bacteria, nonresistant versions will have a better chance of surviving.
—
K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2016
Over time, the proportion of resistant bacteria will increase as nonresistant bacteria are killed by the antibiotic.
—Andre Hudson, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2021
The complaint accuses the police officers, Jordan Belchamber and Christino Quinonez, of failing to immediately intervene upon seeing Zapata Hernandez being restrained — handcuffed, nonresistant and facedown — on the pavement.
—Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2021
Heavy use of antibiotics, while often necessary, can kill off the nonresistant infections and allow resistant ones to thrive.
—Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2019
Lastly, southeast Asian countries have a relatively low transmission rate, meaning resistant strains run up against less competition from more dominant nonresistant strains.
—Washington Post, 30 July 2019
In areas where antibiotic use was restricted, infections with resistant strains largely disappeared, leaving only people infected with milder, and more easily treatable, nonresistant strains.
—Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2017
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K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2016
Over time, the proportion of resistant bacteria will increase as nonresistant bacteria are killed by the antibiotic.
—Andre Hudson, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2021
The complaint accuses the police officers, Jordan Belchamber and Christino Quinonez, of failing to immediately intervene upon seeing Zapata Hernandez being restrained — handcuffed, nonresistant and facedown — on the pavement.
—Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2021
Heavy use of antibiotics, while often necessary, can kill off the nonresistant infections and allow resistant ones to thrive.
—Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2019
Lastly, southeast Asian countries have a relatively low transmission rate, meaning resistant strains run up against less competition from more dominant nonresistant strains.
—Washington Post, 30 July 2019
In areas where antibiotic use was restricted, infections with resistant strains largely disappeared, leaving only people infected with milder, and more easily treatable, nonresistant strains.
—Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Nonresistant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonresistant. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nonresistant
adjective
non·re·sis·tant
-tənt
: not resistant
especially
: unable to withstand the effects of a harmful substance (as an insecticide or antibiotic)
nonresistant bacteria
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