oppose、defy、withstand与resist这些动词均含有“反抗，抵抗”之意。

oppose : 普通用词，可表不同程度的抵抗。

• This party would bitterly oppose the re-introduction of the death penalty.
  本党会强烈反对恢复死刑。
• He threw all those that opposed him into prison.
  他把所有反对他的人都投进了监狱。
• I would oppose changing the law.
  我将反对改变这个法规。

defy : 指公开地、勇敢地反对或抵抗，有时含公然挑衅之意。

• I wouldn't have dared to defy my teachers.
  我可不敢不听老师的话。
• Hundreds of people today defied the ban on political gatherings.
  今天有数百人违抗禁止政治集会的规定。

（拓展学习：小词详解 | defy）

withstand : 较正式用词，指坚强地抵抗攻击或压力，有时也指抗住影响或吸引力。

• The materials used have to be able to withstand high temperatures.
  所使用的材料必须能够耐高温。
• They had withstood siege, hunger and deprivation.
  他们经受了围困、饥饿和贫穷。

resist : 指积极地反抗一种攻击或暴力，或诱惑。

• to resist change
  抵制变革
• They are determined to resist pressure to change the law.
  他们决心顶住要求改革法律的压力。
• The bank strongly resisted cutting interest rates.
  银行强烈反对降低利率。