Resistibility

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being capable of withstanding or opposing force, influence, or temptation without yielding or succumbing
2. The capacity or potential to endure or refuse an external pressure, coercion, or desire, showcasing strength or resilience
3. The characteristic of having the ability to successfully counteract or defy challenges, impulses, or attacks without giving in

Etymology: "Resistibility" is a straightforward formation: "resistible" (able to be resisted, or to resist) with the noun-forming suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun meaning "the quality of." The adjective "resistible" is itself built from the verb "resist," borrowed into English from Old French "resister," which in turn comes from Latin "resistere," meaning "to stand back" or "to withstand," from "re-" (back, against) and "sistere" (to stand, to cause to stand). Note that "resistible" and "irresistible" are not simple opposites in common use. "Irresistible" is the more familiar adjective, and "resistibility" is rare, appearing mostly in philosophical and legal writing where it is needed to name the quality in its own right.

Synonyms: resistance, durability, strength, toughness, endurance

Antonyms: vulnerability, susceptibility, weakness, fragility, sensitivity