1
as in resisting
opposed to something or refusing to agree or obey
The toddler was resistant to trying vegetables. His parents were set in their ways and resistant to the changes brought about by technology.
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2
as in persistent
having or showing determination to do or continue something
The resistant athletes did not give up even when they were losing the game. He was quite resistant, able to bounce back after even large setbacks in his career.
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as in challenger
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of resistant
Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2026
The set is wrapped in durable rattan with steel frames underneath, and the tabletop is made of weather-resistant acacia wood.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Like its Best of Beauty-winning foundation counterpart, Traceless offers a natural-matte finish that's waterproof, transfer-resistant, and humidity-proof.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026
Most trousers are lightweight and wrinkle-resistant, too.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for resistant
Adjective
Straw bale homes are fire-resistant Contrary to popular belief, Clark said, straw bale homes are fire-retardant.
—Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2026
The set is wrapped in durable rattan with steel frames underneath, and the tabletop is made of weather-resistant acacia wood.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Like its Best of Beauty-winning foundation counterpart, Traceless offers a natural-matte finish that's waterproof, transfer-resistant, and humidity-proof.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026
Most trousers are lightweight and wrinkle-resistant, too.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for resistant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resistant
Adjective
-
On Saturday night, John McGinn deflected a shot off an opposing defender and past goalkeeper Johny Placide in the 28th minute, and Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.—
Ken Powtak,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
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John McGinn deflected a shot off an opposing defender and past goalkeeper Johny Placide in the 28th minute, and Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in Group C of the World Cup on Saturday at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Similarly, securing funding for marine conservation remains a persistent challenge.—
Ana K. Spalding,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
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Class 1 and Class 2 drones have emerged as some of the most persistent threats on contemporary battlefields.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
In his most recent outing, Kape knocked out former UFC flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval in December.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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The mayor has used his political capital instead to back challengers who, by definition, can deliver less federal funding.—
Bradley Tusk,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Someone with avoidant attachment may become emotionally distant or reluctant to depend on others.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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Trump and his successors will be reluctant to use force against Iran in the future, knowing, as is now clear, that doing so will likely trigger the closure of the strait and an economic crisis.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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But La Roja could not find a way past Vozinha and a stubborn defense that had an answer to everything Spain’s superstars threw at them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
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Meanwhile, Hanks invests the vulnerable but stubborn Woody with a delectable senior resilience.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Clemson resister Dabo Swinney has driven his program into the ground.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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In November 1971, Berkeley, California, became the first sanctuary city in the country when 12 local churches inspired the City Council to pass a resolution offering sanctuary to draft resisters.—
Menika Dirkson,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, later in the inning after Luzardo gave up another hit, Kruk was not hesitant to remind everyone how everything had gone down.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
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Still, some council members remained hesitant Tuesday to cede its bottom-line lawmaking authority, even after the eight-member body had voted 5-3 earlier this month to advance Lee’s proposal.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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So out of that pain, something positive did come out of that.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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Under the Biden administration, the Department of Health and Human Services amended this rule, enabling kidney and liver transplants from HIV-positive donors to take place outside of research.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Resistant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resistant. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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