resistant
resistant — adjective
1. describing someone who is not willing to accept new ideas, changes, or suggestio
describing someone who is not willing to accept new ideas, changes, or suggestions, often because they prefer things as they are.
Hugo was resistant to moving to a new school, though his friends had already left.
be resistant to + noun phrase
Some team members were resistant to the new software because the old system worked fine.
be resistant to + gerund
Mizuki's grandparents are resistant to change and still use a landline instead of a smartphone.
Dario was resistant to hiring a helper, insisting that the family could manage alone.
- opposed
Stronger and more active — implies vocal or visible objection, while 'resistant' can be passive.
- reluctant
Describes hesitation rather than active refusal; a milder attitude.
- defiant
More confrontational and deliberate; suggests open refusal to obey.
- unwilling
General lack of desire to do something; less specific to change or authority.
文法句型
be resistant to + noun
be resistant to + gerund
用法筆記
Frequently followed by the preposition 'to' — not 'against' or 'with'. The object is typically a noun or gerund representing an idea, proposal, or change.
常見錯誤
2. describing something that is able to withstand damage, infection, or other negat
describing something that is able to withstand damage, infection, or other negative forces without being easily harmed.
Hassan bought a jacket resistant to rain and wind for the mountain trail.
be resistant to + noun (environmental condition)
Some bacteria have become resistant to common antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.
collocation: become resistant to
The gardener chose a disease-resistant variety of tomato for the wet summer climate.
Eli put a heat-resistant coating on the engine parts before the race.
- immune
Stronger — implies complete protection, often in medical contexts; 'resistant' allows partial protection.
- impervious
More formal and absolute; suggests nothing can penetrate or affect the thing.
- hardy
Used mainly for plants or people enduring physical conditions; less formal.
- vulnerable
Easily harmed or affected — the direct opposite.
- susceptible
Likely to be affected by something, especially disease or damage.
文法句型
be resistant to + noun
[noun]-resistant (compound)
用法筆記
Often appears in compound adjectives joined by a hyphen, such as 'water-resistant', 'fire-resistant', 'heat-resistant', 'disease-resistant'. The preposition 'to' is used when the compound is unpacked: 'resistant to water'.
常見錯誤
resistant — noun
1. a person who opposes or fights against something, especially a government, polic
a person who opposes or fights against something, especially a government, policy, or political system.
The government arrested several resistants who had been organising underground meetings.
countable noun: plural form
Charlotte was the strongest resistant to the new policy among the senior staff.
The regime's most vocal resistants were sent to prison without a trial.
Lucía saw herself as a resistant, not a rebel — she simply refused unfair rules.
- supporter
Someone who backs a policy or system rather than opposing it.
文法句型
a + [adjective] + resistant
the + resistant
用法筆記
Less common than 'resister' in modern English. Used most often in formal or historical writing about political opposition movements.