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
Jonathan AlterThough restrained, the women do not lack independence, and they wag their tongues as defiantly as ever.—Jason Farago
Jason FaragoExamples of defiantly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Walz and Ellison have defiantly denied any wrongdoing during their time as Minnesota officials.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Greece Culture Ministry The most dramatic photograph shows several of them looking defiantly into the camera.
—CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
The protests have led to the resignation of Serbia’s prime minister and the formation of a new government coalition, but Vucic has remained defiantly in office.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Mani Peninsula, Greece Stretching south from the Peloponnese, the Mani Peninsula feels defiantly separate from the rest of Greece with its stone tower houses, built for clan defense, rising from a stark landscape of scrub, sea, and sky.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiantly
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.
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Greece Culture Ministry The most dramatic photograph shows several of them looking defiantly into the camera.
—CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
The protests have led to the resignation of Serbia’s prime minister and the formation of a new government coalition, but Vucic has remained defiantly in office.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Mani Peninsula, Greece Stretching south from the Peloponnese, the Mani Peninsula feels defiantly separate from the rest of Greece with its stone tower houses, built for clan defense, rising from a stark landscape of scrub, sea, and sky.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiantly
Cite this Entry
“Defiantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiantly. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
