resist
resist Lexical Profile
resist Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To strive against, oppose, or refuse to accept or comply with something.
"The board members decided to resist the proposed changes to the company charter."
To refrain from doing or enjoying something tempting, desirable, or habitual.
"Walking past the bakery, he could not resist buying a warm croissant."
To remain undamaged or unaffected by the action or effect of a physical force, substance, or environmental condition.
"This specialized alloy is engineered to resist corrosion in marine environments."
• noun
A protective coating or substance applied to a surface, such as fabric, pottery, metal, or a semiconductor wafer, to prevent dye, glaze, acid, or solder from adhering to or etching the covered areas.
"The ceramicist applied a wax resist to the base of the bowl before dipping it into the blue glaze."
Word Nuance & Usage
When followed by a verb, 'resist' takes a gerund (-ing form) rather than an infinitive (e.g., 'She resisted laughing,' not 'She resisted to laugh').
• Rhymes for resist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'resister', which derives from Latin 'resistere' ('to make a stand against, oppose'), formed from 're-' ('against') and 'sistere' ('to take a stand, stand firm').