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   resistance

   /rɪˈzɪst(ə)ns/

   noun

   • 1. the refusal to accept or comply with something: "they displayed a narrow-minded resistance to change" Similar opposition tohostility toaversion torefusal to acceptunwillingness to acceptdisinclination to acceptreluctance to acceptlack of enthusiasm forOpposite acceptancereceptivity
   • ▪ the use of force or violence to oppose someone or something: "government forces were unable to crush guerrilla-style resistance" Similar oppositionfightbattlestandstruggleconfrontationdefianceOpposite submissionsurrender
   • ▪ a secret organization resisting authority, especially in an occupied country: "he went underground and joined the resistance" Similar undergroundfreedom fighterspartisansguerrillashistorical:Maquis
   • ▪ the underground movement formed in France during the Second World War to fight the German occupying forces and the Vichy government.
   • 2. the ability not to be affected by something, especially adversely: "some of us have a lower resistance to cold than others"
   • ▪ lack of sensitivity to a drug, insecticide, etc., especially as a result of continued exposure or genetic change: "many insects show resistance to at least one chemical" Similar ability to fight offability to counteractability to withstandimmunity fromdefences againstresilience
   • 3. the impeding or stopping effect exerted by one material thing on another: "air resistance was reduced by streamlining"
   • 4. the degree to which a substance or device opposes the passage of an electric current, causing energy dissipation. By Ohm's law resistance (measured in ohms) is equal to the voltage divided by the current.
   • ▪ a resistor or other circuit component which opposes the passage of an electric current.

   Word Origin late Middle English: from French résistance, from late Latin resistentia, from the verb resistere ‘hold back’ (see resist).

   Scrabble Points: 12

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