resilient
Americanadjective
-
(of an object or material) capable of regaining its original shape or position after bending, stretching, compression, or other deformation; elastic
-
(of a person) recovering easily and quickly from shock, illness, hardship, etc; irrepressible
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of resilient
First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin resilient-, stem of resiliēns, present participle of resilīre “to spring back,” equivalent to re- re- + -sil-, combining form of salīre “to leap, jump”; see salient
Explanation
When something is strong and able to recover from damage quickly, call it resilient. If you're rough on your toys, the ones that don't break are resilient. Formed from the Latin verb resilire, "to leap back," a resilient person is able to recover from an illness or a bad experience quickly. Politicians who are resilient to media criticism do not let critical journalists affect their focus, performance, or relationship to their constituents. An object that is bent or stretched and returns to its original shape quickly is also resilient.
Vocabulary lists containing resilient
"A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury
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"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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Things Fall Apart
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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.
The eurozone economy has also proved resilient, growing faster than expected in the second quarter, leaving policymakers with some room to lift borrowing costs without inflicting major damage.
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
Ainsley Maitland-Niles marked his return to English football by scoring a stunning stoppage-time equaliser as a resilient Everton came from behind twice to draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
However, the operating outlook could stay supportive, driven by steady loan growth, resilient non-interest income, stable asset quality and strong capital and liquidity buffers, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Despite the losses, all three carriers posted resilient revenue growth for the period, with Air China’s rising 10.5%, China Eastern’s gaining 11% and China Southern’s increasing 9.7%, driven by international traffic demand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
But by and large they modified their landscapes in stable, supple, resilient ways.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
