widerstehen

Widerstehen is a German verb meaning to resist, to withstand, or to oppose something actively. It commonly describes resisting temptations, pressures, or adverse forces. The phrase is frequently used with a dative object, as in “Er widersteht dem Druck” (he resists the pressure). It can also appear in constructions such as “Widerstand leisten,” meaning to offer or show resistance, and in contexts that range from personal restraint to collective opposition.

Etymology and form: Widerstehen derives from the prefix wider- meaning against and the verb stehen, to stand. The word is closely related to the noun Widerstand (resistance) and to related verbs such as sich widersetzen (to defy or to refuse to comply). The semantic range extends from individual self-control to organized or political opposition.

Contexts and usage: In everyday speech, widerstehen describes overcoming temptations or external pressure, for example, “Ich konnte dem Verlangen nicht widerstehen.” In historical or political discourse, the term appears in discussions of broader resistance, such as “Widerstand gegen das NS-Regime,” or in phrases like “Widerstand leisten” to denote acts of opposition, civil disobedience, or nonconformity. The verb often collocates with nouns denoting forces or influences (pressure, temptation, disease, coercion).

Related terms: The noun form Widerstand refers to resistance or opposition as a phenomenon, while sich widersetzen is a common synonym meaning to defy or refuse to comply. In English, the closest equivalents are “to resist,” “to withstand,” or “to oppose.”