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defiant

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adjective de·fi·ant \-ənt\

Definition of defiant

  1. :  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

defiantly

adverb

See defiant defined for English-language learners

See defiant defined for kids

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Examples of defiant in a Sentence

  1. He's taken a defiant stand on the issue.

  2. the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football

Origin and Etymology of defiant

Middle French, from Old French, present participle of defier to defy


First Known Use: 1583

defiant Synonyms

Synonyms
balky, contrary, contumacious, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, restive, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful (or wilful)
Antonyms
amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable
Related Words
noncooperative, uncooperative; insurgent, mutinous; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding; fractious, restive, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild; perverse, resistant, wrongheaded; bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty; undisciplined; dissident, nonconformist; discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly
Near Antonyms
acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging; yielding; behaved, disciplined, well-bred; courteous, polite, respectful; kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient; decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper; controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

DEFIANT Defined for English Language Learners

defiant

play
adjective de·fi·ant \-ənt\

Definition of defiant for English Language Learners

  • : refusing to obey something or someone : full of defiance

DEFIANT Defined for Kids

defiant

play
adjective de·fi·ant \di-ˈfī-ənt\

Definition of defiant for Students

  1. :  showing a willingness to resist … the boy had not run but stood still and defiant … — William H. Armstrong, Sounder

defiantly

adverb

Learn More about defiant

  1. See words that rhyme with defiant Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for defiant Spanish Central: Translation of defiant Nglish: Translation of defiant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defiant for Arabic speakers

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Examples: defiant in a Sentence