IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
resilient
adjective/rɪˈzɪliənt/Band 8
Last updated 21 July 2026
In short
“resilient” is a Band 8 adjective that means able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough and adaptable. Below you'll find its pronunciation, natural example sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and the collocations that help you use it accurately in the IELTS Speaking test.
Meaning
Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough and adaptable.
Example sentences
Natural, spoken examples at the level an examiner rewards.
- “The economy proved surprisingly resilient.”
- “Resilient employees cope better with change.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
toughadaptablerobust
Antonyms
fragilevulnerable
Collocations & common phrases
Word partners that make your usage sound natural — the difference between knowing a word and using it well.
Collocations
resilient economyemotionally resilientbuild resilience
Common phrases
bounce back
Related words
Explore more vocabulary
Frequently asked questions
What does “resilient” mean?
Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough and adaptable.
How do you use “resilient” in a sentence?
For example: “The economy proved surprisingly resilient.”
What are some synonyms for “resilient”?
Synonyms include tough, adaptable, robust.
Is “resilient” good vocabulary for IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is Band 8 vocabulary, and collocations such as resilient economy, emotionally resilient, build resilience help you use it naturally. Reaching for precise, less common words like this is exactly what lifts your Lexical Resource score.
Next step
Use “resilient” in a real mock exam
Practise your vocabulary out loud with SpeakMetry's AI examiner and get an instant band score with feedback on your Lexical Resource.
Start a free mock exam