resistancenoun
uk/rɪˈzɪs.təns/us/rɪˈzɪs.təns/C2 [ U ] the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something:
resistance to disease
Government troops offered no resistance (to the rebels).
There's a lot of resistance (= opposition) to the idea of a united Europe.
[ U ] a force that acts to stop the progress of something or make it slower:
The car's speed was reduced by air/wind resistance.
[ C or U ] specialized physics the degree to which a substance prevents the flow of an electric current through it:
Copper has (a) low resistance.
More examples
- The army is reported to be encountering considerable resistance.
- Bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics.
- He was famed for his stubborn resistance and his refusal to accept defeat.
- There has been strong resistance to the proposed tax increases.
- Following a determined resistance in the east, there was eventually a popular uprising in the capital.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Responding to an attack
- beat
- beat sb off
- beat sb/sth back
- capitulate
- counterattack
- fend sb off
- fight
- fight back
- fight fire with fire idiom
- parry
- pull (sb/sth) out
- repel
- repulse
- resist
- resistance
- retreat
- see sb off
- strike
- ward
- white flag
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Electricity & electronics
Idiom(s)
the path of least resistance