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
Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
North couldn’t resist sharing the heartwarming clip online, and the TikTok video has gone viral with over 3 million views and more than 771,200 likes at the time of writing.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
As other American manufacturers went bankrupt and the competition moved overseas, both the Dalquists and the Irvanis resisted pressure to move their factories offshore.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
They are made with Power Flex technology to expand with the contents and resist tears.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for resist
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
No one can resist a timeless game-night staple like Candy Land that keeps kids entertained and overwhelms adults with nostalgia.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
North couldn’t resist sharing the heartwarming clip online, and the TikTok video has gone viral with over 3 million views and more than 771,200 likes at the time of writing.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
As other American manufacturers went bankrupt and the competition moved overseas, both the Dalquists and the Irvanis resisted pressure to move their factories offshore.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
They are made with Power Flex technology to expand with the contents and resist tears.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for resist
Cite this Entry
“Resist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resist. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
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