resist

This term conveys a sense of opposition, whether it is a physical struggle against an external force or an internal battle against a temptation. It implies a barrier or a counter-pressure that prevents a specific outcome from occurring, often suggesting a state of tension between two opposing wills or properties.

When used in a technical or material sense, it describes an inherent quality of durability or immunity, such as a surface that remains unchanged despite exposure to corrosive elements. In this context, the word shifts from an active choice to a passive, structural characteristic.