resourceful

[ ri-sawrs-fuhl, -sohrs-, -zawrs-, -zohrs- ]

adjective

1. able to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations, difficulties, etc.

   Synonyms: adroit, imaginative, able, talented

resourceful

/ rɪˈzɔːsfʊl; -ˈsɔːs- /

adjective

1. ingenious, capable, and full of initiative, esp in dealing with difficult situations

Derived Forms

• reˈsourcefully, adverb
• reˈsourcefulness, noun

Other Words From

• re·sourceful·ly adverb
• re·sourceful·ness noun
• self-re·sourceful adjective
• self-re·sourceful·ly adverb
• self-re·sourceful·ness noun
• unre·sourceful adjective
• unre·sourceful·ly adverb
• unre·sourceful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of resourceful¹

First recorded in 1850–55; resource + -ful

Example Sentences

“We used Mother Earth's gravity to nudge us to the Moon. It took us weeks and a lot of resourceful planning. Isro has mastered this and done it successfully so many times.”

From BBC

Mr Heywood said Mr Khalife was not "merely a young soldier" but a "resourceful man".

From BBC

Speaking to BBC Radio Devon in 1995, Mr Soper said the team who set up the unit "had to be very resourceful" in its early days.

From BBC

Now, after enduring non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a life-threatening bout of Covid, and a few entertainment industry strikes, Bridges is back at last for the second season in his Emmy-nominated role as resourceful, brutal former CIA agent Dan Chase in FX's "The Old Man."

From Salon

The reality is that most of Burning Man is dreamt, designed, built and paid for by its scrappy, resourceful attendees — the majority of whom are not backed by tech moguls or millionaires.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• active
• adventurous
• aggressive
• bright
• capable
• creative
• enterprising
• ingenious
• intelligent
• inventive
• talented