resistant

adjective re·sis·tant \ -tənt \

Definition of resistant

:giving, capable of, or exhibiting resistance —often used in combination

wrinkle-resistant clothes

a drug-resistant strain of virus

See resistant defined for English-language learners

See resistant defined for kids

Examples of resistant in a Sentence

These plants are resistant to cold temperatures.
He became resistant to the medication.

Recent Examples of resistant from the Web

As Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg’s patron saint and most famous native son, observed some 200 years ago, the city reveres its traditions and is fiercely resistant to whatever may challenge those traditions.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "At Salzburg Festival, operatic winds of change blow," 29 Aug. 2017
Those with the VF designation have also been found to be resistant to verticillium and fusarium diseases.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Spider mites harm plants but are easy to control," 23 Aug. 2017
To this day, heritage cattle are naturally disease-resistant, produce offspring without human intervention, and can be milked well into their teen years.

— linni kral, The Atlantic, "The Fight for America's Disappearing Ancient Dairy Cows," 22 Aug. 2017
But China is deeply resistant to doing anything that could destabilize or topple the regime in Pyongyang.

— simon denyer, Washington Post, "China’s president urges Trump to use restraint over North Korea," 12 Aug. 2017
This will keep a lot of dirt and stains from sticking to your shoes, and will also keep them a bit more water-resistant.

— scott christian, Esquire, "The Right Way to Keep Your Suede Shoes Clean," 9 Aug. 2017
Often, stronger mixes of drugs are resistant to naloxone, and multiple doses must be administered to turn around the overdoses.

— terry demio, Cincinnati.com, "Drug overdose surge hits Hamilton County," 7 Aug. 2017
Not to mention, the substance is pretty resistant to lumps and bumps—

— perrie samotin, Glamour, "8 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Getting Lip Injections," 4 Aug. 2017
Some experts fear that resistant infections could kill 10 million people a year by 2050.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Swabbing Filthy Surfaces for Tomorrow’s Cures," 26 July 2017

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

First Known Use of resistant

15th century

resistant

noun

Definition of resistant

:one that resists :resister

First Known Use of resistant

1580

RESISTANT Defined for English Language Learners

resistant

adjective

Definition of resistant for English Language Learners

: opposed to something : wanting to prevent something from happening
: not affected or harmed by something

RESISTANT Defined for Kids

resistant

adjective re·sis·tant \ ri-ˈzis-tənt \

Definition of resistant for Students

:capable of withstanding the force or effect of

The material is fire-resistant.

Medical Dictionary

resistant

adjective re·sis·tant

variants: also resistent play \-tənt\

medical Definition of resistant

:giving, capable of, or exhibiting resistance —often used in combination

a drug-resistant strain of virus

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See words that rhyme with resistant Spanish Central: Translation of resistant Nglish: Translation of resistant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of resistant for Arabic speakers

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Examples of resistant in a Sentence

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First Known Use of resistant

resistant

Definition of resistant

First Known Use of resistant

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RESISTANT Defined for English Language Learners

resistant

Definition of resistant for English Language Learners

RESISTANT Defined for Kids

resistant

Definition of resistant for Students

Medical Dictionary

resistant

medical Definition of resistant

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