WITHSTAND Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'withstand' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of withstand are combat , oppose , and resist . While all these words mean "to set oneself against someone or something," withstand suggests a more passive resistance. // trying to withstand peer pressure

Q: When could 'combat' be used to replace 'withstand'?

While the synonyms combat and withstand are close in meaning, combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something. // combat disease

Q: Where would 'oppose' be a reasonable alternative to 'withstand'?

The words oppose and withstand can be used in similar contexts, but oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare. // opposed the plan

Q: When might 'resist' be a better fit than 'withstand'?

The synonyms resist and withstand are sometimes interchangeable, but resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it. // resisting temptation

withstand

verb

with-ˈstand

Definition of withstand next

as in to resist

to refuse to give in to trying to withstand the temptation to use the beautiful weather as an excuse to take a mental health day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb withstand differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of withstand are combat, oppose, and resist. While all these words mean "to set oneself against someone or something," withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

When could combat be used to replace withstand?

While the synonyms combat and withstand are close in meaning, combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

Where would oppose be a reasonable alternative to withstand?

The words oppose and withstand can be used in similar contexts, but oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

When might resist be a better fit than withstand?

The synonyms resist and withstand are sometimes interchangeable, but resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of withstand That decision withstood an appeal, and the dispute cost the city $7 million and three years in litigation. —

Victoria Le, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026 Other kids in the household also had been physically abused, including a 10-year-old girl who withstood routine beatings with a belt over a 22-month period, Lake County authorities discovered. —

Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 The dramatic construction, however, is solid enough to withstand some of the overly broad strokes of the staging. —

Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026 Add live leaderboards, comprehensive metrics, heart rate monitor support, and hardware that’s designed to withstand intense, regular use, and that's more than enough to earn the Cross Training Tread our Editors' Choice award. —

Craig Rawlins-Wilson, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for withstand

Recent Examples of Synonyms for withstand

Verb

Against a backdrop of social and geopolitical change, amid profound transformation both in Georgia and across the South Caucasus, their stories reveal how the will to dream, to resist, and to love becomes its own quiet blaze.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Serious worm farmers will want to invest in some worm food to ensure their nightcrawlers get the perfect balance of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals to create a plump, tasty bait that no self-respecting fish can resist.

— Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026