resilient
/rɪˈzɪl.i.ənt/- 1.
Able to recover quickly after something difficult or painful happens. A resilient person faces setbacks — like failure, loss, or stress — and finds a way to bounce back and keep going.
- She stayed resilient after losing her job and found a new one fast.
- The resilient community rebuilt itself after the floods.
- Children can be surprisingly resilient in the face of change.
- 2.
Used to describe a material or object that can return to its original shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed. This sense is common in science and engineering.
- Rubber is resilient — it snaps back to its original shape.
- The resilient foam absorbs impact without losing its form.
Adinary Nuance
People often use resilient, tough, hardy, and strong as if they mean the same thing — but they don't. Tough means you can take a hit without breaking down; it is about raw endurance. Resilient is specifically about recovery — a resilient person gets knocked down and gets back up, which is a distinct and more active idea. Hardy usually describes someone naturally built to survive harsh conditions over a long time, and is often used for plants, animals, or people in physical environments. If you want to say someone moved forward after a major setback, resilient is more precise than any of these alternatives — and it is the preferred word in academic writing and IELTS essays on personal development or social challenges.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- kiên cường
- Spanish
- resiliente
- Chinese
- 坚韧
- Japanese
- 回復力がある
- Korean
- 탄력있는
Etymology
From Latin "resilire," meaning "to spring back" or "rebound," the word entered English in the 17th century. It was first used to describe physical materials, then expanded over time to describe emotional and psychological recovery.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'resilient' and 'tough'?
- 'Tough' means you can endure pain or difficulty without breaking. 'Resilient' specifically means you recover and bounce back after a setback. Resilient is about getting back up; tough is about not falling down in the first place.
- Is 'resilient' a good word to use in IELTS writing?
- Yes, it is an excellent choice. 'Resilient' is a high-frequency academic word that appears in IELTS topics like personal challenges, society, the economy, and the environment. Using it correctly signals a strong vocabulary range.
- What is the noun form of 'resilient'?
- The noun form is 'resilience.' For example: 'Her resilience helped her recover from every challenge.' This noun form is also very common in academic and IELTS writing.
- Can 'resilient' describe things other than people?
- Yes. Economies, ecosystems, communities, institutions, and materials can all be described as resilient if they recover well from damage or disruption. For example: 'The economy proved resilient despite the global crisis.'