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Synonyms

resourceful

American  
[ri-sawrs-fuhl, -sohrs-, -zawrs-, -zohrs-] / rɪˈsɔrs fəl, -ˈsoʊrs-, -ˈzɔrs-, -ˈzoʊrs- /

adjective

  1. able to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations, difficulties, etc.

    Synonyms:
    adroit, imaginative, able, talented

resourceful British  
/ rɪˈzɔːsfʊl, -ˈsɔːs- /

adjective

  1. ingenious, capable, and full of initiative, esp in dealing with difficult situations

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of resourceful

First recorded in 1850–55; resource + -ful

Explanation

If you are interviewing employees for your new pet store, you may want to ask if they are resourceful. If they are, it means they are good at problem solving, and this could come in very handy. Think of resourceful people as “full of resources,” or tools for coming up with solutions. They adapt well to new or difficult situations and they are able to think creatively. For example, if a snake gets loose in the pet store, a resourceful person will be able to figure out how to lure it back into its cage again.

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Vocabulary lists containing resourceful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s a fast, low-effort way to minimize waste and feel resourceful in the kitchen.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

Tessa makes for a captivating protagonist, one who is resourceful and resilient, sardonic and defiant: “A live wire, always throwing off sparks,” in the words of one character.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

But teenagers are resourceful, Clark said, and can often circumvent those safeguards.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

With Spurs maintaining a strict wage budget, their recruitment must be smart and resourceful whatever division they are in, but it is also important it is in line with the coach's needs and wishes.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The whole room got very quiet and I was glad, now, that at the last minute I had looked up resourceful in the dictionary.

From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson

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