in defiance of

phrase

: contrary to : despite

seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics

He returned to the pulpit May 22 in defiance of an order by church leaders banning him from television preaching for one year.

—Daniel E. Kubiske

Examples of in defiance of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His administration has responded by slow-walking city licensing in defiance of the council’s legal mandate. — Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Long before the official ban on private farming was lifted in 1982, peasants across China spontaneously reintroduced private ownership in defiance of socialist doctrine. — Rainer Zitelmann, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Of course, with Aegon still breathing, the High Septon is less inclined than ever to anoint a woman in defiance of the deeply patriarchal Faith of the Seven. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

But throughout this time—in defiance of my plight—I’ve been waging my own war against immune systems, thanks to Pathogenic, a new roguelite twin-stick shooter from developer Aberrant Labs. — ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in defiance of

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove
• hereinabove