Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

withstand

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of withstand

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 of withstand

buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist
Words Related to withstand

battle, combat, contend (with)

challenge, contest, contradict, dispute

baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart

check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stem
Antonyms of withstand

bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

Synonym Discussion of withstand

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something. oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.
    • opposed the plan
combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.
    • combat disease
resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.
    • resisting temptation
withstand suggests a more passive resistance.
    • trying to withstand peer pressure

Learn More about withstand

  1. See words that rhyme with withstand Dictionary: Definition of withstand Spanish Central: Translation of withstand Nglish: Translation of withstand for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of withstand for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up withstand? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

reverberate

Listen to the pronounciation of reverberate

to reflect, repel, echo, or resound

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

  2. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

  3. crawdad New novel makes waves

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games