resisting

Resisting is the act of opposing, withstanding, or refusing to comply with something such as external pressure, authority, temptation, or an unwanted condition. It can be deliberate or unconscious and may range from quiet noncooperation to open confrontation. Resisting can refer to individual choices as well as organized collective action.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the Latin resistere, meaning to stand back or stand firm. In English, resist and resistance share the same origin, with resisting used for ongoing or active opposition and resistance often referring to the broader quality or effort.

Contexts and forms: Personal resistance involves self-control or opposition to internal urges, discomfort, or change. In social and political life, resisting can take the form of civil resistance, nonviolent protests, strikes, boycotts, or other tactics designed to oppose policies or authorities without outright violence. Military or insurgent resistance describes organized efforts to oppose occupying forces or oppressive regimes, which may include clandestine activities. In scientific and technical usage, resistance denotes a property that opposes the flow of something, such as electrical current or heat; the verb resisting is less common in technical jargon, where resistance or resistive components are standard terms.

Historical note: Resisting has played a central role in various movements and conflicts, from anti-colonial struggles to reforms and civil rights campaigns. Nonviolent resistance movements emphasize principles such as proportionality, legitimacy, and ethical constraints, while armed resistance is typically framed within the context of armed conflict or insurgency.

See also: Civil disobedience, civil resistance, protest, opposition, nonviolent resistance.