defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 
dē-
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
Daniel E. KubiskeExamples 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
Minnesota passed on Rodgers at the time, almost to signal a vote of defiance or confidence in McCarthy.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
In recent months, some council members have pushed, in open defiance, for outside groups to take another look, on the city’s behalf, at the economics of moving out of the Civic Center complex.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The novel immerses the reader in the world of a Carpathian village in the 1970s, where the main character Darusya lives, whom the locals consider mute and mentally retarded due to attacks of headaches, although none of them guesses the true reasons for her behavior and defiance.
—Nelly Klos
september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Now low-income Kansas families won’t be able to put food on the table because of her political defiance.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
In recent months, some council members have pushed, in open defiance, for outside groups to take another look, on the city’s behalf, at the economics of moving out of the Civic Center complex.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The novel immerses the reader in the world of a Carpathian village in the 1970s, where the main character Darusya lives, whom the locals consider mute and mentally retarded due to attacks of headaches, although none of them guesses the true reasons for her behavior and defiance.
—Nelly Klos
september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Now low-income Kansas families won’t be able to put food on the table because of her political defiance.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiance. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share