resistirse

Resistirse is a Spanish pronominal verb meaning to resist, to refuse, or to object, especially when the subject is reluctant to act or to accept a situation. It is always used with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) and is commonly followed by the preposition a, as in resistirse a + infinitive or resistirse a + noun. The meaning can cover resisting an impulse, an offer, or external pressure.

Etymology and grammar: Resistirse comes from the verb resistir plus the reflexive pronoun, forming a pronominal verb. The reflexive usage emphasizes the subject’s internal stance or voluntary opposition. In many contexts it parallels oponerse or negarse, but with a focus on personal or conscious resistance.

Usage and examples: Typical constructions include resistirse a + infinitive and resistirse a + sustantivo. Examples: “Me resisto a creerlo” (I refuse to believe it); “Se resistió a firmar el acuerdo” (He refused to sign the agreement); “Se resiste a la tentación” (She resists the temptation). “Se resisten a las presiones” conveys opposition to external pressures. The expression often implies a deliberate or stubborn stance rather than mere disagreement.

Notes: The term is used across genres, from everyday speech to journalism and literature, and can carry a sense of moral or ethical stance in addition to practical opposition. Synonyms include oponerse, negarse, plantarse, while antonyms include ceder and obedecer.