defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 
dē-
Phrases
in defiance of
: 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
Daniel E. KubiskeExamples of defiance in a Sentence
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Recent Examples on the Web
North Korea, now a front-line participant in the war in Ukraine, continues to launch missiles in defiance of sanctions.
—Anthony Trotter, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
In a sign of the party's divide, Democrats have continued to push for a national redistricting panel that would remove partisanship from the process, even as some call for retaliation against Republicans in defiance of state limitations.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2025
Their behaviors, such as limited eye contact, repetitive motions, or rigid routines, may be misinterpreted by others as defiance, disrespect, or oddity, potentially leading to bullying or violence.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
The church's chef, Odeh, gave a small speech, telling students this community is an act of defiance in itself for all those who want to separate and isolate the others.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
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Anthony Trotter, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
In a sign of the party's divide, Democrats have continued to push for a national redistricting panel that would remove partisanship from the process, even as some call for retaliation against Republicans in defiance of state limitations.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2025
Their behaviors, such as limited eye contact, repetitive motions, or rigid routines, may be misinterpreted by others as defiance, disrespect, or oddity, potentially leading to bullying or violence.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
The church's chef, Odeh, gave a small speech, telling students this community is an act of defiance in itself for all those who want to separate and isolate the others.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiance. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
2
: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition
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