What does unresisted mean?
Unresisted means not opposed, challenged, or prevented from acting. It is used chiefly as an adjective and most often describes an advance, attack, proposal, or other action that encounters no effective opposition. An invading force may make an unresisted advance, while a proposal may receive unresisted approval. The word can also describe a person or force that acts without restraint, although unopposed is usually clearer in modern prose. Its tone is formal and occasionally literary, particularly in historical or military description. It differs importantly from unrestricted: something may be unresisted because nobody interferes with it, yet remain subject to laws, physical limits, or other restrictions. The word is therefore most useful when the central contrast is between encountering opposition and proceeding without anyone effectively standing in the way.
adjectiveNot resisted, opposed, or challenged; met with no effective opposition.
- Not resisted, opposed, or challenged; met with no effective opposition.
"With the defenders withdrawn, the attackers were able to advance unresisted."
"With the defenders withdrawn, the attackers were able to advance unresisted."
"The proposal drew unresisted approval, and the committee adopted it without amendment."
Unresisted means freedom from opposition, not freedom from limits—a small distinction with a big consequence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unresisted come from?
The word is an English formation in un-, meaning “not,” and resisted. Resisted comes through Middle French resister from Latin resistere, formed from re-, meaning “back,” and sistere, meaning “to stand”; the Latin verb originally conveyed the idea of standing back or withstanding. The same root underlies related English forms such as resistant and resistance, as well as prefixed forms such as irresistible.
How unresisted is actually used
Formal and somewhat literary in tone; it is especially associated with historical or military contexts. It emphasizes the absence of opposition rather than the absence of legal or physical constraints.
Easily confused with unresisted
Unresisted means free from opposition or challenge, whereas unrestricted means free from restrictions or limits.