resilient
adjective
re·sil·ient
ri-ˈzil-yənt 
: characterized or marked by resilience: such as
a
: capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture
b
: tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change
resiliently
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of resilient in a Sentence
The tallow tree, an ornamental species introduced by Benjamin Franklin in 1772, can quickly grow to 10 metres and is resilient to many pests.
—
New Scientist, 19-25 Aug. 2006
In this affecting and eloquent account of the Dew family members' attempts to come to terms with the homosexuality of the elder son … Stephen emerges as a remarkably resilient and self-aware young man.
—Genevieve Stuttaford, Publishers Weekly, 18 Apr. 1994
Scientists are trying to figure out how the complex structure of such crystals and polymers and their interactions on the molecular level lead to resilient materials like sea shells, teeth and bones.
—JoAnn Shroyer, Quark, Critters and Chaos, 1993
Old roses are tough and resilient; they may be a little loose and blowzy … but the fact remains, these bushes want to live.
—Beverly Lowry, New York Times Book Review, 3 Dec. 1989
Hot-dipped nails have a resilient, thick zinc jacket that withstands more of the perils of a nail's life.
—Jim Locke, The Apple Corps Guide to the Well-Built House, 1988
The local economy is remarkably resilient.
after being dipped in liquid nitrogen, the rubber ball's normally resilient surface is as brittle as ceramic
New Scientist, 19-25 Aug. 2006
In this affecting and eloquent account of the Dew family members' attempts to come to terms with the homosexuality of the elder son … Stephen emerges as a remarkably resilient and self-aware young man.
—Genevieve Stuttaford, Publishers Weekly, 18 Apr. 1994
Scientists are trying to figure out how the complex structure of such crystals and polymers and their interactions on the molecular level lead to resilient materials like sea shells, teeth and bones.
—JoAnn Shroyer, Quark, Critters and Chaos, 1993
Old roses are tough and resilient; they may be a little loose and blowzy … but the fact remains, these bushes want to live.
—Beverly Lowry, New York Times Book Review, 3 Dec. 1989
Hot-dipped nails have a resilient, thick zinc jacket that withstands more of the perils of a nail's life.
—Jim Locke, The Apple Corps Guide to the Well-Built House, 1988
The local economy is remarkably resilient.
after being dipped in liquid nitrogen, the rubber ball's normally resilient surface is as brittle as ceramic
Recent Examples on the Web
So in every place the military is taking action today to become more resilient.
—Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024
Rather than collapsing, Hezbollah has proved both resilient and adaptive.
—Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024
The labor market has slowed but proven resilient in recent months.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
But perhaps their most resilient architectural achievement was the building of Machu Picchu, a citadel that sits about 8,000 feet in elevation in the Andes of southern Peru.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for resilient 
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.
Outside Online, 13 Nov. 2024
Rather than collapsing, Hezbollah has proved both resilient and adaptive.
—Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024
The labor market has slowed but proven resilient in recent months.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
But perhaps their most resilient architectural achievement was the building of Machu Picchu, a citadel that sits about 8,000 feet in elevation in the Andes of southern Peru.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for resilient
Dictionary Entries Near resilient
Cite this Entry
“Resilient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilient. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
resilient
adjective
re·sil·ient
ri-ˈzil-yənt
: characterized or marked by resilience
resiliently
adverb
Etymology
from Latin resilient-, resiliens, present participle of resilire "to jump back, rebound," from re- "back, again" and salire "to leap, spring" — related to assault, insult, somersault
Medical Definition
resilient
adjective
re·sil·ient
-yənt
: characterized or marked by resilience
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share