resist
to withstand, strive against, or oppose: to resist infection; to resist temptation.
to withstand the action or effect of: to resist spoilage.
to refrain or abstain from, especially with difficulty or reluctance: They couldn't resist the chocolates.
to make a stand or make efforts in opposition; act in opposition; offer resistance.
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.
Textiles. a chemically inert substance used in resist printing.
Origin of resist
1synonym study For resist
Other words for resist
Other words from resist
- re·sist·er, noun
- re·sist·ing·ly, adverb
- in·ter·re·sist, verb
- non·re·sist·ing, adjective
- o·ver·re·sist, verb
- qua·si-re·sist·ed, adjective
- un·re·sist·ed, adjective
- un·re·sist·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with resist
- resister , resistor
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use resist in a sentence
But as President Snow has learned, people will only take so much before they start resisting.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools | Zephyr Teachout | November 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI think audience members will have a hard time resisting her charm.
Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos | Itay Hod | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut after resisting Eddie, Frank makes his visit, and the dying man confesses a disturbing secret from decades ago.
Richard Ford’s Artful Survivalist Guide: The Return of Frank Bascombe | Tom LeClair | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe music sometimes sounding like the exorcism of a multitude of demons, each one of whom was mightily resisting his expulsion.
At least for now, Modern Family is taking the less-is-more approach, and resisting turning it into The Lily Show.
Stop Hating on ‘Modern Family’ (But Also Stop Giving It Emmys) | Jason Lynch | October 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Tobacco is a strong growing plant resisting heat and drought to a far (p. 018) greater extent than most plants.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.She reached out and took the cigarette from Mrs. Kaye's faintly resisting hand.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonNo room here,” cried the major, resisting them, “quite full outside—inside not safe!
Hunting the Lions | R.M. BallantyneThis is said in the person of the Jews, resisting the repeated commands of God, and still putting him off.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThis water, although of a dirty and thick appearance, is said to possess the valuable quality of resisting putridity for years.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida Pfeiffer
British Dictionary definitions for resist
/ (rɪˈzɪst) /
to stand firm (against); not yield (to); fight (against)
(tr) to withstand the deleterious action of; be proof against: to resist corrosion
(tr) to oppose; refuse to accept or comply with: to resist arrest; to resist the introduction of new technology
(tr) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannot or could not resist (something))
a substance used to protect something, esp a coating that prevents corrosion
Origin of resist
1Derived forms of resist
- resister, noun
- resistible, adjective
- resistibility, noun
- resistibly, adverb
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
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