defiance

noun

de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 

dē-

1

: the act or an instance of defying : challenge

jailed for defiance of a court order

2

: disposition to resist : willingness to contend or fight

dealing with a child's defiance

Phrases

in defiance of

: contrary to : despite

seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics

He returned to the pulpit May 22 in defiance of an order by church leaders banning him from television preaching for one year.

—Daniel E. Kubiske

Synonyms

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

Examples of defiance in a Sentence

any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences

the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort

Recent Examples on the Web

Man Utd fans explain their song of defiance United fans have turned to Bonnie Tyler in a season of heartache Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Mikel Arteta has been reluctant to discuss his own musical tastes publicly. —The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025

The students and faculty who are protesting in peaceful defiance of these senseless and often cruel actions should be commended for their conviction. —Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 18 Apr. 2025

Coffee with a side of defiance Some Mexican cafés are changing the name of the Americano. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025

He must not be allowed to rot in an El Salvadorian jail based on lies and defiance of our Constitution. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diffiaunce, defyaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French defiance, difiaunce, from defier, desfier "to renounce, challenge, defy entry 1" + -ance, -aunce -ance

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for defiance

• appliance
• compliance
• reliance
• geoscience
• neuroscience
• noncompliance
• pseudoscience
• science

Kids Definition

defiance

noun

de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 

1

: the act or an instance of defying : challenge

2

: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition