vastupida

Vastupida is an Estonian verb meaning to resist or oppose; to withstand pressure, influence, or an argument, and to defy. It describes an act of counteraction by a person or group in the face of something undesirable or coercive. The term is part of a family of words related to resistance, including vastupanu (resistance) and phrases such as vastu astuma (to oppose) and vastu võtma (to resist or oppose, depending on context).

Etymology: the verb is built from the element vastu meaning "against" and a verb ending from the Estonian infinitive, placing it among the standard counteraction verbs in Estonian.

Usage: vastupida is used when someone consciously counters or withstands a challenge, such as criticism, temptation, or political pressure. It can convey both active opposition and passive endurance, depending on context. Common collocations include vastupida kriitikale (to resist criticism) and vastupida survele (to withstand pressure). In narrative and reporting, it often describes an actor taking a stand or withstanding adverse conditions.

Conjugation: like other Estonian verbs, vastupida forms present, past, and future tenses, with mood and aspect indicated by standard suffixes.

See also: vastupanu, vastu astuma.