Vocabulary in context
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Resist
To withstand or oppose the effect, influence, or pressure of something; to refuse to comply or yield.
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Imagine This
Imagine a fortified gate resisting a raging flood; the water pounds against it, but the gate stands firm and refuses to give way.
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Sounds Like
ri-ZIST
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Looks Like
Looks like: resembles related forms such as resistance and resistant.
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Remember This
Remember: Resist often takes a direct object (what you resist). The noun form is resistance; adjectival forms include resistant and resistible.
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Other Forms
resistsverb
resistedverb
resistingverb
resistibleadjective
resistancenoun
resistantadjective
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Connect With
withstand, oppose, defy, endure, challenge
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Note
Tip: Distinguish resist from desist (to stop doing something). Resist means to oppose or withstand; desist means to cease an action. Also note the third-person form resists.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The shield resisted the arrow's impact.
- She could not resist the temptation to check her phone.
Synonyms
withstandopposedefyrefrainhold out
Antonyms
yieldsuccumbgive in
Etymology
From Latin resistere, from re- meaning 'back' + sistere meaning 'to stand' — to stand back against or oppose.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: RE-SIST = Re- (back) + sist (to stand) — to stand back against pressure.
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Persistent
adjectiveContinuing firmly despite obstacles; lasting for a long time; not giving up.
Extremity
nounThe farthest point or edge of something, or the utmost limit or degree of something; in anatomy, a limb or appendage.
Electic
adjectiveDerived from a broad range of sources; drawn from diverse origins; selecting from many different sources to create a varied whole.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Defy
verbTo openly challenge or refuse to obey; to resist, confront, or dare against someone or something.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
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