IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary

    resilient

    adjectiverɪˈzɪliəntBand 8

    Last updated 2 September 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

    • The economy proved surprisingly resilient.
    • Resilient employees cope better with change.

    Synonyms & antonyms

    Synonyms

    toughadaptablerobust

    Antonyms

    fragilevulnerable

    Collocations & common phrases

    Collocations

    resilient economyemotionally resilientbuild resilience

    Common phrases

    bounce back

    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

    Try the AI speaking exam