resistance

noun

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re·sis·tance | \ ri-ˈzi-stən(t)s

Definition of resistance

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : an act or instance of resisting : opposition

b : a means of resisting

2 : the power or capacity to resist: such as

a : the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (such as disease, toxic agents, or infection)

b : the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (such as a drug) formerly effective against it

3 : an opposing or retarding force

4a : the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current

b : a source of resistance

5 : a psychological defense mechanism wherein a patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes the therapeutic efforts of a psychotherapist

6 often capitalized : an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators

resistance

adjective

Definition of resistance (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or being exercise involving pushing or pulling against a source of resistance (such as a weight) to increase strength resistance training

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Examples of resistance in a Sentence

Noun They have shown a stubborn resistance to change. The troops met heavy resistance as they approached the city. The paint shows good weather resistance. Over time the patient could develop a resistance to the drug.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun So, in the wake of the growing state violence, Muslim women took it upon themselves to use Gandhian tactics of civil resistance to spearhead a movement for Muslim rights. — Shikha Dalmia, TheWeek, "What makes America exceptional," 2 July 2020 His songs, Allo said, were at the heart of a groundswell of antigovernment resistance that began in 2015 with street protests in the Oromia region that eventually led to the resignation of the prime minister at the time, Hailemariam Desalegn. — Abdi Latif Dahir, BostonGlobe.com, "Ethiopians protest over killing of singer activist," 30 June 2020 My act of resistance is working to find happiness outside of America. — Nayantara Dutta, Quartz at Work, "With an emergency move, I’m working to find happiness outside of America," 25 June 2020 Live audio’s success only came after years of resistance from the justices. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Why Isn’t the Supreme Court on Twitter?," 25 June 2020 Doing so will first require us to recognize our bias for chronic low expectations and the path of least resistance. — Terah Crews, Fortune, "Get Americans back to work—but not at just any job," 24 June 2020 Bradbury's science fiction classic is about reading as an act of resistance to authority. — Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Top Big Read books in Wisconsin include 'Fahrenheit 451,' 'Station Eleven,' 'Lab Girl'," 23 June 2020 Postwar politics and historiography both attempted to appropriate and glorify as well as discredit various forms of resistance. — Christopher R. Browning, The New York Review of Books, "Who Resisted the Nazis?," 17 June 2020 Most of the resistance to downloading a contact-tracing app came from people over the age of 55. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "More than 7 in 10 Americans won’t use contact-tracing apps, data shows," 15 June 2020

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

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Last Updated

5 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Resistance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resistance. Accessed 10 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for resistance

resistance

noun

English Language Learners Definition of resistance

: refusal to accept something new or different

: effort made to stop or to fight against someone or something

: the ability to prevent something from having an effect

See the full definition for resistance in the English Language Learners Dictionary

resistance

noun

re·sis·tance | \ ri-ˈzi-stəns

Kids Definition of resistance

1 : an act or instance of opposing

2 : the ability to withstand the force or effect of resistance to disease

3 : an opposing or slowing force The car's sleek design reduces wind resistance.

4 : the opposition offered by a substance to the passage through it of an electric current

resistance

noun

re·sis·tance | \ ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s

Medical Definition of resistance

1a : power or capacity to resist especially : the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (as disease, toxic agents, or infection)

b : the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (as a drug) formerly effective against it due to genetic mutation and selection for and accumulation of genes conferring protection from the agent especially as a result of overuse of the agent which selectively destroys individual microorganisms lacking the protective genes

2a : the opposition offered by a body to the passage through it of a steady electric current

b : opposition or impediment to the flow of a fluid (as blood or respiratory gases) through one or more passages — see vascular resistance

3 : a psychological defense mechanism wherein a psychoanalysis patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes therapeutic efforts by the analyst

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