Resistance worker put off accepting death (8)
I believe the answer is:
defender
'resistance worker' is the definition.
(someone fighting in a resistance force)
'put off accepting death' is the wordplay.
'put off' becomes 'defer' (synonyms).
'accepting' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are accepted).
'death' becomes 'end' (synonyms).
'defer' placed around 'end' is 'DEFENDER'.
(Other definitions for defender that I've seen before include "Goalkeeper" , "Football player" , "Guardian" , "Advocate" , "Protector" .)