resourceful

adjective

re·​source·​ful ri-ˈsȯrs-fəl How to pronounce resourceful (audio)
-ˈzȯrs-
: able to meet situations : capable of devising ways and means
a resourceful leader
resourcefully adverb
resourcefulness noun

Examples of resourceful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web When wildfires swept across Maui last month with destructive fury, China’s increasingly resourceful information warriors pounced. Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023 Part 3 of Netflix‘s French thriller returns with more clever schemes and disguises from the suave and resourceful gentleman thief, Assane Diop (played by the magnetic Omar Sy). Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023 Be on the lookout for resourceful doors opening under the Virgo moon. USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023 Thelma & Louise This Golden Globe-winning film is about two resourceful woman who go on the lam after shooting their attacker, taking off in a ’66 Thunderbird for an adventure throughout the desert Southwest in Utah. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 7 July 2023 Human beings are remarkably resilient and resourceful. The Editors, National Review, 25 July 2023 Asuka is an unusual protagonist: introverted, neurotic, alternately resourceful and paralyzed. Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 18 July 2023 Her real-life persona contrasts sharply with that of her character, Donya, who shows herself to be tough, resourceful and unafraid of confrontations. Will Tizard, Variety, 4 July 2023 Farmers have to fork out thousands of dollars for expensive pesticide applications, while gardeners face a shortage of their favorite grasshopper baits and have to resort to resourceful solutions. Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resourceful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of resourceful was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near resourceful

Cite this Entry

“Resourceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resourceful. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

resourceful

adjective
re·​source·​ful ri-ˈsōrs-fəl How to pronounce resourceful (audio)
-ˈsȯrs-,
-ˈzōrs-,
-ˈzȯrs-
: able to deal well with new or difficult situations
resourcefully adverb
resourcefulness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!