Definition of resistancenext
1
as in opposition
the inclination to resist after some initial resistance, the city council warmed up to the proposed development plan

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2
as in underground
a secret organization in a conquered country fighting against enemy forces soldiers from the resistance were captured after a skirmish outside the foreign ministry

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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 resistance Recognizing the difference between fantasy and reality is a form of practicing fear management – which strengthens resilience and resistance. — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 Mahershala Ali leads the resistance against the malevolent powers that be as a rebel bandit. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026 Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service has played a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine’s successful resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion for years. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 They were not thrilled that women were allowed on campus, so there was this resistance to enforcing Title IX to becoming more gender equitable. — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for resistance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resistance
Noun
  • In the string of cases, Elias Law Group represented various voting rights groups and nonprofit organizations, rather than the states themselves, though the firm’s intervention strategy has helped the legal opposition.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Rodríguez is already signaling an interest in working with Washington, despite some of her public rhetoric, tapping former opposition aide Oliver Blanco as foreign minister.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The industry, documents show, saw CCS as a way to forestall that outcome, allowing the world to keep burning fossil fuels while simply burying the pollution underground.
    — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • His mother had belonged to the Irgun, the Jewish underground that fought British rule before Israel’s founding, but his parents were, by all accounts, not ideological zealots.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • De Niro is joined by Ariana DeBose, Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Vince Gilligan, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Anne Hathaway and more in his objection to his work being high-tech feasting fodder.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Following an objection from the defense, Krol did not divulge any more about the content of what Ringquist had sent.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Resistance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resistance. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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