resistance

noun

re·sis·tance | \ ri-ˈzi-stən(t)s

Definition of resistance

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : an act or instance of resisting : opposition

b : a means of resisting

2 : the power or capacity to resist: such as

a : the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (such as disease, toxic agents, or infection)

b : the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (such as a drug) formerly effective against it

3 : an opposing or retarding force

4a : the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current

b : a source of resistance

5 : a psychological defense mechanism wherein a patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes the therapeutic efforts of a psychotherapist

6 often capitalized : an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators

resistance

adjective

Definition of resistance (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or being exercise involving pushing or pulling against a source of resistance (such as a weight) to increase strength resistance training

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about resistance

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Synonyms & Antonyms for resistance

Synonyms: Noun

defiance, opposition

Antonyms: Noun

acquiescence

Examples of resistance in a Sentence

Noun

They have shown a stubborn resistance to change. The troops met heavy resistance as they approached the city. The paint shows good weather resistance. Over time the patient could develop a resistance to the drug.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The sprawling estate itself, a representation of exclusionary greed, rips at her flesh, and though bloodied and battered by this bloodsport, her sheer survival is due to her resistance against the gaping maw of the demented tradition. — Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: ‘Ready or Not’ sacrifices horror for irony and laughs to skewer the 1 percent," 22 Aug. 2019 Though bloodied and battered by this blood sport, her sheer survival is her resistance against the gaping maws of the demented tradition. — Katie Walsh, Detroit Free Press, "‘Ready or Not’ is too snarky to be scary," 19 Aug. 2019 In these posts, Boylan also often goes after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for her resistance to impeachment as well. — Seamus Kirst, Teen Vogue, "Why Lindsey Boylan Wants to Defeat One of the Most Powerful Democrats in Congress," 16 Aug. 2019 The voices and experiences of communities of color is what’s making our collective resistance so strong at this moment. — Vanessa Williams, Washington Post, "Why women of color created the ’reproductive justice’ movement 25 years ago," 16 Aug. 2019 Now, critics on Twitter have adopted #MassacreMitch because of his resistance to bringing forward a bill passed by the House of Representatives that would expand background checks. — NBC News, "McConnell has a long history of opposing gun legislation in the wake of tragedies," 7 Aug. 2019 The blankness of that nihilism, its resistance to understanding, is precisely what makes such violence so frightening. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Jihadi John, Domestic Terrorist," 6 Aug. 2019 Baltimore is often remembered for its resistance to Prohibition. — Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "100 years before Alcoholics Anonymous, the Washington Temperance Society began in a Baltimore tavern," 26 July 2019 The Sudanese Professionals' Association, which spearheaded protests that led the army to oust President Omar al-Bashir, says Saturday that their resistance will begin Sunday and last till the military council hands over power to civilians. — Fox News, "Sudan protesters call for civil disobedience to push army," 9 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'resistance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for resistance

resistance

noun

Financial Definition of resistance

What It Is

In technical trading analysis, resistance is an upper limit in a price channel in which a security’s price tends to stay.

How It Works

Price channels can slope up (indicating bullish sentiment) or down (indicating bearish sentiment); they don’t have to simply go “sideways.” The important geometric characteristic is that the resistance lines and support lines (the opposite of the resistance) are parallel, as shown in this price channel for ChevronTexaco (CVX). The channel lines themselves are often based on multiday moving averages or logarithmic scales that reflect price movements in percentage terms. However, technical trading is as much an art as it is a science, and so one technical trader’s price channel might be different from another’s.

When a stock’s price touches the resistance, this may signal a trend change, which is why resistance levels are very important to technical traders.

Why It Matters

Price channels help tip traders off about trend changes in a stock or “unusual” activity when the price goes above or below the price channel lines (we call this a breakout). For example, a technical trader might sell when a stock hits resistance on a downward-sloping channel.

Source: Investing Answers

resistance

noun

English Language Learners Definition of resistance

: refusal to accept something new or different

: effort made to stop or to fight against someone or something

: the ability to prevent something from having an effect

See the full definition for resistance in the English Language Learners Dictionary

resistance

noun

re·sis·tance | \ ri-ˈzi-stəns

Kids Definition of resistance

1 : an act or instance of opposing

2 : the ability to withstand the force or effect of resistance to disease

3 : an opposing or slowing force The car's sleek design reduces wind resistance.

4 : the opposition offered by a substance to the passage through it of an electric current

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resistance

noun

re·sis·tance | \ ri-ˈzis-tən(t)s

resistance

Definition of resistance

Synonyms & Antonyms for resistance

Examples of resistance in a Sentence

First Known Use of resistance

Financial Definition of resistance

English Language Learners Definition of resistance

Kids Definition of resistance

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