defy

verb de·fy \ di-ˈfī , dē- \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: defy in a Sentence

Definition of defy

defied; defying

transitive verb

1 : to confront with assured power of resistance : disregard

defy public opinion

in trouble for defying a court order

2 : to resist attempts at : withstand

the paintings defy classification

a decision that defies all logic

3 : to challenge to do something considered impossible : dare

defied us to name a better movie

4 archaic : to challenge to combat

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Examples of defy in a Sentence

She defied her parents and dropped out of school.
The group has continued to defy all efforts to stop them.

Recent Examples of defy from the Web

Page defied that subpoena to appear on Wednesday before the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform Committees.

— alex pappas, Fox News, "Ex-FBI lawyer Lisa Page appears on Capitol Hill for closed-door interview," 13 July 2018
For its Asian neighbours the political and economic costs of defying China, and of helping America police the high seas, are rising.

— The Economist, "Xi’s world order: July 2024," 7 July 2018
Croatia and Sweden have both defied expectations, while England has repeatedly talked down its chances but now has an expectant nation back home believing its time has come again under head coach Gareth Southgate.

— martin rogers, USA TODAY, "The chances a long-suffering nation wins the World Cup is greater than normal," 4 July 2018
Their prolonged mash-o-rama at the plate defies description.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Morning Line: After Annapolis killings, Doc asks what the hell is wrong with us," 2 July 2018
That defied expectations for the home team, and Russia's path to the final also includes a potential semifinal here.

— graham dunbar, Houston Chronicle, "Russia defeats Spain in shootout at World Cup," 1 July 2018
As a bearded guy wearing both a baseball hat and a necklace with one giant block bead, Gungor defied expectations.

— ella riley-adams, Vogue, "I Visited a Perfume Mystic in Marfa, Texas, and Here’s What Happened," 22 June 2018
The 28-year-old Baltimorean’s enigmatic creations seemingly defy the laws of gravity, not to mention common sense.

— mary carole mccauley, baltimoresun.com, "Artists explore American identity in Sondheim Artscape Prize exhibit," 21 June 2018
The 31-year-old defied the conditions and beat many of the world's best to end five over.

— rob hodgetts, CNN, "US Open: Savage Shinnecock Hills humbles golf stars," 14 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of defy

Middle English defien "to renounce, disavow, scorn, challenge to fight," borrowed from Anglo-French defier, desfier, from de-, des- de- + fier "to pledge, trust in, rely on," going back to Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, re-formation of Latin fīdere "to trust (in), have confidence (in)" — more at ¹faith

Note: The sense history was perhaps "to break faith with" > "to scorn" > "to challenge to a fight," though the latter meaning appears to be the earliest in Old French.

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year