Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Elastic; able to spring back into shape after being bent, stretched, or compressed: Describes a physical material's property of returning to its original form.
   • Recovering readily from adversity, depression, or difficulty: Describes a person's or system's ability to withstand or recover quickly from challenging conditions.

Usage and Examples

• Describing physical elasticity:
  • The resilient rubber of the ball made it bounce very high.
  • A resilient mattress provides both comfort and support.
• Describing mental or emotional toughness:
  • Children are often remarkably resilient after experiencing trauma.
  • The resilient community rebuilt the town after the flood.

Advanced Usage

• "Resilient to [something]": Able to withstand a specific force or condition.
  • This coating makes the fabric resilient to stains.
  • The economy has proven resilient to recent global shocks.
• "Show resilience" / "Demonstrate resilience": To display the quality of being resilient.
  • The team showed great resilience in the final minutes of the game.

Variants and Related Words

• Resilience (noun): The ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.
  • Her resilience in the face of illness was inspiring.
• Resiliently (adverb): In a resilient manner.
  • The structure swayed but held on resiliently during the storm.

Synonyms

• Elastic: Capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression.
• Flexible: Capable of bending easily without breaking.
• Buoyant: Able to recover quickly from setbacks; cheerful.
• Hardy: Robust; capable of enduring difficult conditions.
• Tough: Strong enough to withstand adverse conditions.

Antonyms

• Fragile: Easily broken or damaged.
• Brittle: Hard but liable to break or shatter easily.
• Vulnerable: Susceptible to physical or emotional harm.
• Rigid: Unable to bend or be forced out of shape.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Bounce back": To recover quickly from a setback (a common concept related to resilience).
  • True champions always find a way to bounce back from defeat.
• "Roll with the punches": To adapt to difficulties (implies resilience).
  • In this industry, you have to learn to roll with the punches.

Adjective

1. elastic; rebounds readily
   • clean bouncy hair
   • a lively tennis ball
   • as resilient as seasoned hickory
   • springy turf
2. recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like