defiantly

adverb

de·​fi·​ant·​ly di-ˈfī-ənt-lē 

dē-

: in a defiant manner : in a way that is full of or shows a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight

She spoke out defiantly against the proposed law.

As his empire crumbled amid the … scandal, he defiantly refused a graceful exit.

—Jonathan Alter

Though restrained, the women do not lack independence, and they wag their tongues as defiantly as ever.

—Jason Farago

Examples of defiantly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At a time when deep state cuts have slashed arts funding, horror movies have proven to be a frighteningly resilient business in South Florida — and the proof is in Popcorn Frights, a defiantly indie horror bash that has inexplicably become Broward County’s biggest film festival. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2025

Poitier slapped white men onscreen and fell defiantly in love with their daughters, illustrating how his kind of masculine dignity had to be won in a series of direct clashes with white power. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025

Belly defiantly shows off her microscopic diamond ring. —Meg Walters, Glamour, 31 July 2025

During both, Allen defiantly maintained his innocence. —Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above