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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

  • resourcefully adverb
  • resourcefulness noun
  • self-resourceful adjective
  • self-resourcefully adverb
  • self-resourcefulness noun
  • unresourceful adjective
  • unresourcefully adverb
  • unresourcefulness noun

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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

Apple utilized resourceful strategies such as repurposing iPhone 16 chips.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

For resourceful parents, children present a massive potential for ad sponsorships.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 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

Pasadena Playhouse, which is know for being a resourceful company, made that easy, he added.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

The less resourceful Neanderthals found it increasingly difficult to feed themselves.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari