defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

dē-

: full of or showing a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight : full of or showing defiance : bold, impudent

defiant rebels

a defiant refusal

Mantor struck a defiant pose, his chin out, and rocked for a moment on the heels of his boots.

—Christopher Ketcham

Synonyms of defiant

• rebellious
• rebel
• stubborn

Examples of defiant in a Sentence

He's taken a defiant stand on the issue.

the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football

Recent Examples on the Web

Iran trolls Trump about blockade Iran struck a defiant tone ahead of the blockade’s start. —Garrett Downs, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026

Swalwell has remained defiant and threatened to sue some of those making the accusations. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

If Miller made Willy the embodiment of self-delusion, and Biff the defiant, angry forsaking of those delusions, Linda is compassion as byproduct of insight. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026

Your 11th House of Hopefulness hosts Mars, which is presently sextiling defiant Uranus in your determined sign. —Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

in part borrowed from French défiant "mistrustful," from present participle of défier "to mistrust, challenge, defy entry 1," going back to Old French; in part from defi(ance) + -ant entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defiant

• oppositional defiant disorder

Rhymes for defiant

• compliant
• reliant
• suppliant
• client
• giant
• pliant
• scient
• noncompliant
• supergiant

Kids Definition

defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

: full of or showing defiance : impudent, insolent

defiantly adverb