resisted; resisting; resists
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
: to exert force in opposition
I know I shouldn't, but I can't resist.
often attributive
: something (such as a coating) that protects against a chemical, electrical, or physical action
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
Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Salinas was charged with possession of cocaine, a Level 4 felony; resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor counts of theft and possession of marijuana.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Fan flowers resist heat and droughts, and since the plants are self-cleaning, there’s no need for deadheading.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
The more such institutions can resist integrating AI tools into every aspect of their operations, and instead incentivize human intellectual engagement even at the expense of efficiency, the better as far as patience is concerned.
—Christian B. Miller, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for resist
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images Officer punched One woman – identified as 29-year-old Karely Reyes, of Queens – was charged with assault, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
—Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Salinas was charged with possession of cocaine, a Level 4 felony; resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor counts of theft and possession of marijuana.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Fan flowers resist heat and droughts, and since the plants are self-cleaning, there’s no need for deadheading.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
The more such institutions can resist integrating AI tools into every aspect of their operations, and instead incentivize human intellectual engagement even at the expense of efficiency, the better as far as patience is concerned.
—Christian B. Miller, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for resist
Cite this Entry
“Resist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resist. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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