resourceful

[ri-sawrs-fuhl, -sohrs-, -zawrs-, -zohrs-]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: adroit, imaginative, able, talented

resourceful

/ rɪˈzɔːsfʊl, -ˈsɔːs- /

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of resourceful¹

First recorded in 1850–55; resource + -ful

Example Sentences

Laura is an older woman, highly educated, actively devout, intelligent, resourceful, good-humored and a long-time resident of a community that struggles to balance its relative wealth with the neediness of surrounding communities.

Read more on Salon

In a letter read out to the court, Ms Hempstead's mother Karen described her daughter as "loving, resilient, not afraid to speak her mind, hard working, caring, extremely brave, resourceful, generous".

Read more on BBC

“She is very resourceful,” Dockery agrees of Mary’s tenacity and ability to imagine a new future for Downton, particularly new ways of funding the estate.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr Williams said it was more resourceful to have one officer help a farmer burn some land safely, than 10 fire trucks turning up "because you'd lost control".

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But without network TV production budgets, the team is more resourceful with how they spend their money for the self-funded venture.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• active 
• adventurous 
• aggressive 
• bright 
• capable 
• creative 
• enterprising 
• ingenious 
• intelligent 
• inventive 
• talented