resist

verb

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re·sist | \ ri-ˈzist

resisted; resisting; resists

Definition of resist

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

noun, often attributive

Definition of resist (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About resist

Choose the Right Synonym for resist

Verb

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Move after meals To avoid a major post-meal blood sugar spike, resist the urge to lounge on the couch after dinner. — Barbara Brody, Fortune, 13 May 2022 Jerky: No man can resist Gary West Meats' tender jerky. — Erin Cavoto, Country Living, 12 May 2022 The point being impossible to miss — or resist, for that matter: Have celebrity specs, will travel. — New York Times, 11 May 2022 Algerian rebels resist French government forces by any means necessary in this gripping 1966 docudrama directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. — Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2022 Trump, too, found the role of chief assassin impossible to resist. — Jackson Lears, The New York Review of Books, 6 Apr. 2022 Ukrainian parliament member Oleksandra Ustinova also met with U.S. senators last week to push for more sanctions immediately if Ukraine is to resist Russian attacks. — Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2022 The gravitational pull of business fundamentals has been impossible to fully resist. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 1 Mar. 2022 The lure of an easy pass or sure basket is almost impossible to resist until Jackson has the ball in his hands and running the floor with teammates in tow. — Evan Dudley, al, 4 Feb. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'resist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.