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resist definition

re·sist (ri zist′)

transitive verb

  1. to withstand; oppose; fend off; stand firm against; withstand the action of
    1. to oppose actively; fight, argue, or work against
    2. to refuse to cooperate with, submit to, etc. to resist conscription
  3. to keep from yielding to, being affected by, or enjoying to resist temptation

Etymology: ME resisten < MFr resister < L resistere < re-, back + sistere, to set, caus. of stare, to stand

intransitive verb

to oppose or withstand something; offer resistance

noun

a substance that resists, esp. something applied as a protective coating

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

resist Synonyms

resist

v.

  1. To stand firm against

    withstand, hold, remain, maintain, endure, bear, continue, persist, obtain, stay, brook, suffer, weather, abide, tolerate, be unalterable, be immune, be unsusceptible, be strong, persevere, last, oppose change, bear up against, stand up to, put up a struggle, hold off, repel, remain firm, hold one's ground, be proof against, keep from yielding to, refrain from, abstain from, fight to the last ditch*, die hard*, arch one's back*, not take lying down*.

    Antonyms submit, yield, succumb.

  2. To oppose

    combat, fight back, counter; see oppose 1, 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

resist Usage Examples

Object

  • temptation: Water drained away, couldn't resist the temptation to dig.

Used with why or when

  • when: Its an impulse hard to resist when you know so much of its amazing 75 year history!

Present participle complement

  • crease: Natural fibers allow your skin to breathe, and shed moisture while synthetic fibers help the fabric to resist creasing.

Modifying Another Word

  • fiercely: With other Caucasian tribes they fiercely resisted Russian conquest in the nineteenth century.

Adjective complement

  • evil: Resist not evil, and render good for evil,... were first preached in view of the implacability of Karmic law.
resist usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

resist quotes

Submit yourselvesthereforeto God,Resistthe devil, and he will flee from you.Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

-Bible (NewTestament)

I respect only those who resist me, but I cannot tolerate them.

-de Gaulle, Charles

We resist only what is inevitable.

-Miller, Henry Valentine

resist quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"resist." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/resist>

APA Style

resist. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/resist

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