as in resisting
to refuse to give in to
trying to withstand the temptation to use the beautiful weather as an excuse to take a mental health day
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Recent Examples of withstanding
When Guthrie anchors the Today show on Easter Monday, a major break in the case withstanding, the Christian spillover-holiday will mark the 65th day since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
—
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
Grower trials across the country have shown that Petite Knock Out is hardy in Zones 5 through 10, withstanding any climate from the desert southwest to the Northeast.
—Mackenzie Nichols, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026
And while the song became an undeniable hit — withstanding years-long rumors and the test of time to this day — the naysayers weren't wrong.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
Iran’s strategy widened the arena of conflict, thereby extending the conflict beyond mere military might and into the political and economic realms, with the aim of withstanding bombardment until the conflict becomes too costly for the belligerents to maintain.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
The finished structure contains microscopic channels that allow heat to move efficiently while withstanding harsh operating environments.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
After withstanding barrages that bookended the Utah Mammoth’s losing effort on Friday, the Ducks returned home to await Sunday’s clash with the Buffalo Sabres, the NHL’s hottest team over a span of more than four months.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Such is life for a Celtics team that doesn’t have the highest ceiling (a Jayson Tatum medical miracle withstanding) but has arguably the highest floor of any team in the East.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
With its silvery-blue needles, the blue spruce is not only an elegant addition to many yards but also is capable of withstanding adverse conditions, including cold weather.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
Grower trials across the country have shown that Petite Knock Out is hardy in Zones 5 through 10, withstanding any climate from the desert southwest to the Northeast.
—Mackenzie Nichols, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026
And while the song became an undeniable hit — withstanding years-long rumors and the test of time to this day — the naysayers weren't wrong.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
Iran’s strategy widened the arena of conflict, thereby extending the conflict beyond mere military might and into the political and economic realms, with the aim of withstanding bombardment until the conflict becomes too costly for the belligerents to maintain.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
The finished structure contains microscopic channels that allow heat to move efficiently while withstanding harsh operating environments.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
After withstanding barrages that bookended the Utah Mammoth’s losing effort on Friday, the Ducks returned home to await Sunday’s clash with the Buffalo Sabres, the NHL’s hottest team over a span of more than four months.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Such is life for a Celtics team that doesn’t have the highest ceiling (a Jayson Tatum medical miracle withstanding) but has arguably the highest floor of any team in the East.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
With its silvery-blue needles, the blue spruce is not only an elegant addition to many yards but also is capable of withstanding adverse conditions, including cold weather.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for withstanding
Verb
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Pride should come from your willingness to improve, not from resisting uncomfortable truths.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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One individual was also charged with complicity, and another was charged with resisting arrest, the department said.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Humans seemingly have opposing desires to fit in and to be unique.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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But Swanson isn’t ready to endorse reverse framing, a conceptual strategy in which catchers could try to make strikes look like balls in an effort to fool opposing hitters into wasting a challenge.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Withstanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/withstanding. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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