RESISTANCE Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

resistance

noun

ri-ˈzi-stən(t)s

Definition of resistance

as in opposition

the inclination to resist after some initial resistance, the city council warmed up to the proposed development plan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in underground

a secret organization in a conquered country fighting against enemy forces soldiers from the resistance were captured after a skirmish outside the foreign ministry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of resistance Recognizing the difference between fantasy and reality is a form of practicing fear management – which strengthens resilience and resistance. — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 Mahershala Ali leads the resistance against the malevolent powers that be as a rebel bandit. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026 Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service has played a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine’s successful resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion for years. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 They were not thrilled that women were allowed on campus, so there was this resistance to enforcing Title IX to becoming more gender equitable. — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for resistance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for resistance

Noun

In October 2023, Machado won an opposition primary and intended to challenge Maduro in the 2024 presidential election, but the government barred her from running for office.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado has returned to Venezuela after ten months abroad, announcing her arrival in a social media post.

— Carrie Kahn, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of opposition

Noun

His mother had belonged to the Irgun, the Jewish underground that fought British rule before Israel’s founding, but his parents were, by all accounts, not ideological zealots.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Storing heat underground uses the same principle, though in reverse.

— Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of underground

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resist

resistance

resistances

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“Resistance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resistance. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of resistance

noun

Example Sentences

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