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

When summoned before a congressional committee in December, Noem struck a defiant tone. —Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026

Between the river’s source, entrusted to an order of Orthodox nuns, and its southern delta, where caviar bound for the Kremlin is harvested, the author journeys through a defiant country transformed by war, sanctions, and reinvigorated patriotism. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

Auralee has a reputation for bringing exciting color combinations to their collections and their AW26 show was no different, pairing reds, sky blues, and light greens in interesting variations, while showing an innate – almost defiant – sense of color blocking that many designers stray away from. —Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

This combo was striking and chic, even as intentionally defiant strands and sunglasses attempted to conceal her gorgeous face. —Essence, 23 Jan. 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