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Definition of defy
defied
;defying
transitive verb
1 archaic : to challenge to combat
2 : to challenge to do something considered impossible : dare defied us to name a better movie
3 : to confront with assured power of resistance : disregard defy public opinion in trouble for defying a court order
4 : to resist attempts at : withstand the paintings defy classification a decision that defies all logic
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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
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That’s borderline star territory, great news for an Angels club that continues to defy expectations with Mike Trout still missing in action. 12.
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Even with his federal securities fraud trial set to begin Monday, Martin Shkreli has blatantly defied his attorneys' advice to lay low. (June 30, 2017)
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Clambering up the concentric wooden circles that evoke the ship's masthead and spars and swaying yards above the deck, the actors seem to defy death.
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Savo, whose decline has been slower than others, has defied the odds.
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Botrytis is a common killer of peonies and a brutal scourge that has defied plant pathologists’ efforts to find a cure.
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Scott loves his son with a vigor that defies words.
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There’s artistry in Nadal’s capacity to go from defense to offense in a single stroke, and in his ability to generate ungodly spin on shots whose angles defy the laws of geometry.
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French President Emmanuel Macron is set to defy naysayers again.
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, to renounce faith in, challenge, from Anglo-French desfier, defier, from des- de- + fier to entrust, from Vulgar Latin *fidare, alteration of Latin fidere to trust — more at bide
Recent Examples of defy from the Web
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Many of the sightings turn out to be explainable, the authors say, but a small percentage defy resolution.
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
see 1defy
DEFY Defined for English Language Learners
defy
playDefinition of defy for English Language Learners
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: to refuse to obey (something or someone)
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: to make (something) very difficult or impossible
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: to resist or fight (something)
DEFY Defined for Kids
Learn More about defy
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See words that rhyme with defy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for defy Spanish Central: Translation of defy Nglish: Translation of defy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defy for Arabic speakers
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