I can't resist sweet things.
Source: tatoeba (21006)
Resist
/ɹɪˈzɪst/
Synonyms for "resist" (211 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (43)
Strong matches (63)
Related words (105)
hold outhold out againsthold upimpedeimpugninhibitinterceptinterfereinterfere withintermeddleinterruptintervenejoin the oppositionkeep at baykeep backkeep in checklock hornsmeddlemeet head onmeet head-on
Show 43 more words
militatemilitate againstnot abideobstructopposeoppugnoutlastplay at cross-purposesprecludepreventprotestrebuffrefuseremonstraterepelrepressrepulserestrainretardrevoltrun againstrun counter toscotchset backslackensnubstandstand upstand up againststand up tostemstopsuppressswim upstreamtake issue withthwarttraverseturn downvote againstweatherwithstandwork againstyield
Verb(25 words)
hold outjibkick backmilitatedmutiniedoppose changeopposedopposespersevereprotestrebelledrebuffedrejectrenegadedrepulsedstandstand firmstaysurvivesurvived
Show 5 more words
Noun(14 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: oppose, refuse, withstand, act against, adversest.
- Sentence evidence is available for resist, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "resist".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "resist"
Keep "resist" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "resist" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "resist", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "resist" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
7 entriesCollocations
5 entriesresist authorityresist changeresist pressureresist temptationresist the urge
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesremain firmstand
Translations
63 translations across 40 languages.
Ancient Greek
1 entries- ἀνθίστημι verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Arabic
1 entries- قَاوَمَ verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Armenian
2 entries- դիմադրել verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- դիմակայել verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Azerbaijani
2 entries- davam gətirmək verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- tab gətirmək verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Belarusian
3 entries- праці́віцца verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- процістая́ць verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- супраціўля́цца verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Bulgarian
1 entries- устоявам verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Catalan
1 entries- resistir verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Chinese Mandarin
3 entries- 反抗 verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- 抵制 verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- 抵抗 verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Czech
1 entries- odolat verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Danish
1 entries- modstå verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Dutch
2 entries- weerstaan verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- zich verzetten verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Esperanto
1 entries- rezisti verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Finnish
2 entries- kestää verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- vastustaa verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
French
1 entries- résister verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
German
1 entries- widerstehen verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Greek
2 entries- ανθίσταμαι verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- αντιστέκομαι verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Hebrew
2 entries- התנגד verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- עמד ב־ verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Hungarian
1 entries- ellenáll verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Irish
1 entries- seas verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Japanese
4 entries- 反抗する verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- 抗う verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- 抵抗する verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- 耐える verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Latin
1 entries- obnitor verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Macedonian
1 entries- издржи verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Māori
2 entries- whakawhena verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- ātete verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Norwegian
1 entries- motstå verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Occitan
1 entries- resistir verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Old Saxon
1 entries- witharstandan verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Polish
1 entries- opierać się verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Portuguese
2 entries- aguentar verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- resistir verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Romanian
1 entries- rezista verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Russian
3 entries- проти́виться verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- противостоя́ть verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- сопротивля́ться verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- cum ri verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Slovak
2 entries- odolať verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- odolávať verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Slovene
2 entries- upirati se verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- zoperstavljati se verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Spanish
1 entries- resistir verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Swedish
2 entries- motstå verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- stå emot verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Thai
2 entries- ต่อต้าน verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- ต้านทาน verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Turkish
1 entries- direnmek verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Ukrainian
3 entries- опира́тися verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- проти́витися verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
- протистоя́ти verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Vietnamese
1 entries- chống cự verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Welsh
1 entries- gwrthsefyll verb (to withstand actions or effects of)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
The guy was so childish that he couldn't resist temptation.
Source: tatoeba (45345)
The building is to be fifteen stories high, and built to resist earthquakes.
Source: tatoeba (49975)
Why on earth did you resist taking medicine?
Source: tatoeba (66271)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "resist"?
Closest matches include oppose, refuse, withstand, act against, adversest.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "resist"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.