RESILIENCE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

resilience

noun

Definition of resilience

as in strength

the ability to withstand or adjust to challenges Her resilience shined in her willingness to accept the failure as a valuable learning experience. We were impressed by his resilience and optimism throughout his battle with cancer.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in flexibility

the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been stretched, pressed, bent, etc. Rubber is a favorite material for dog toys thanks to its strong resilience. Palm trees have evolved to show strong resilience in the face of tropical storms.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 resilience That’s what Learning to Fly is about – mental health, resilience, belonging, and the community that forms around chasing something that pushes you to your limit. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 July 2026 The report shows that many affluent buyers are now seeking environments that proactively support their long-term health, resilience and overall well-being. — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Asian CEOs must therefore build resilience across three dimensions. — Yasushi Sasaki, Fortune, 30 July 2026 The other part of Millennium Stage’s resilience is financial. — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for resilience

Recent Examples of Synonyms for resilience

Noun

According to Karim Gharbi, Extension Agent for Horticulture with CSU Extension in Denver County, the beetles' strength comes from overwhelming trees in massive numbers.

— Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 31 July 2026
More than 40 weekly fitness experiences invite guests to move with intention, from sunrise yoga and Pilates sessions to high-energy strength and conditioning classes led by expert instructors.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 31 July 2026

Definition of strength

Noun

These technologies are designed to improve aircraft launch and recovery capabilities while expanding the operational flexibility of the ship.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026
As more employees push for greater flexibility, and even four-day workweeks, the idea that success requires constant hustle is increasingly being challenged.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of flexibility

Noun

While burning through so much of their pitching depth, the Cubs have demonstrated persistence, flexibility and problem-solving skills.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 July 2026
The child narrator’s lingering guilt and Ayah’s eventual recovery, achieved through the persistence of other women, place the gendered costs of partition at the center of the book.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Definition of persistence

Noun

Because when the stakes are high, challenges grow in complexity, and collective adaptability is hard to master, the need for sophisticated and skilled orchestration, direction, and mobilization increases.

— Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
What can endure is curiosity, adaptability and a culture where learning is understood to be part of the job.

— Brent Saunders, Fortune, 31 July 2026

Definition of adaptability

Noun

The Home Service Insurance segment experienced a decline in premiums, attributed to strategic actions to improve sales quality and persistency, as well as economic pressures such as inflation.

— Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025
The tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.

— Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 2 May 2023

Definition of persistency

Noun

The botanical blend works to trigger collagen and elasticity to hydrate and firm while adding radiance and visibly fading scars.

— Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
They’re infused with the brand’s low molecular collagen, which helps boost skin elasticity; that’s noteworthy since most collagen molecules are too large to penetrate skin.

— Deanna Pai, Vogue, 27 July 2026

Definition of elasticity

Browse Nearby Words

resigns (from)

resilience

resilient

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Resilience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resilience. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of resilience

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on resilience

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

invidious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes