resist

[ri-zist]

verb (used with object)

1. to withstand, strive against, or oppose.

   to resist infection; to resist temptation.

   Synonyms: rebuff, counteract, confront

2. to withstand the action or effect of.

   to resist spoilage.

3. to refrain or abstain from, especially with difficulty or reluctance.

   They couldn't resist the chocolates.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a stand or make efforts in opposition; act in opposition; offer resistance.

noun

1. a substance that prevents or inhibits some effect from taking place, as a coating on a surface of a metallic printing plate that prevents or inhibits corrosion of the metal by acid.

2. Textiles.,  a chemically inert substance used in resist printing.

resist

/ rɪˈzɪst /

verb

1. to stand firm (against); not yield (to); fight (against)

2. (tr) to withstand the deleterious action of; be proof against

   to resist corrosion

3. (tr) to oppose; refuse to accept or comply with

   to resist arrest

   to resist the introduction of new technology

4. (tr) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannot or could not resist ( something ))

noun

1. a substance used to protect something, esp a coating that prevents corrosion

Other Word Forms

• resister noun
• resistingly adverb
• interresist verb
• nonresisting adjective
• overresist verb
• quasi-resisted adjective
• unresisted adjective
• unresisting adjective
• resistible adjective
• resistibly adverb
• resistibility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of resist¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English resisten (verb), from Latin resistere “to remain standing,” equivalent to re- “again, back” + sistere “to cause to stand,” akin to stāre “to stand”; re-, stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of resist¹

C14: from Latin resistere to stand still, oppose, from _re- + sistere to stand firm

Synonym Study

See oppose.

Example Sentences

FBI agents at field offices and at headquarters who resisted Gray’s power were censured, fired or transferred.

From Salon

In a video shared on X, he insisted that the Israeli military would be able to remain in parts of Gaza and that Israel said it would "forcibly resist" a Palestinian state.

From BBC

"No, absolutely not. It's not even written in the agreement. But we did say one thing. That we would forcibly resist a Palestinian state."

From BBC

In a video shared on X, he insists that the Israeli military would be able to remain in parts of Gaza and that Israel said it would "forcibly resist" a Palestinian state.

From BBC

"But we did say one thing – that we would forcibly resist a Palestinian state."

From BBC

Related Words

• abide 
• combat 
• confront 
• continue 
• curb 
• defy 
• endure 
• forgo 
• maintain 
• prevent 
• refuse 
• repel 
• thwart 
• turn down