defiance

de·fi·ance

noun \di-ˈfī-ən(t)s, dē-\

Definition of DEFIANCE

1

: the act or an instance of defying : challenge

2

: disposition to resist : willingness to contend or fight

— in defiance of

: contrary to : despite <seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics>

Examples of DEFIANCE

1. <any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences>
2. <the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort>

First Known Use of DEFIANCE

15th century

Related to DEFIANCE

Synonyms

balkiness, contrariness, contumacy, disobedience, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, obstreperousness, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness

Antonyms

compliance, obedience, submission, subordinateness, subordination, tractability, tractableness

Related Words

civil disobedience, noncooperation; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; doggedness, hardheadedness, mulishness, obduracy, obdurateness, obstinacy, obstinateness, peevishness, pertinaciousness, pertinacity, perversity, pigheadedness, self-will, stubbornness, tenaciousness, tenacity; knavery, mischievousness, naughtiness

Near Antonyms

agreeability, amenability, amiability; slavishness, submissiveness, subservience, subserviency; trainability; deference, docility, dutifulness

Rhymes with DEFIANCE

affiance, nonscience