as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
Numerous historic allocution statements have been delivered over the years, including John Brown’s address to the court after his death sentence in 1859, and Susan B. Anthony’s defiant speech following her arrest for voting in 1873.
—
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
Jafar Panahi has been tapped for the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, cementing the Iranian director’s status as one of cinema’s most defiant voices.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 July 2025
That defiant posture helped to reshape American politics.
—Michael Catanzaro, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 July 2025
On Monday, asked about the poll proposal at an unrelated event, Adams was defiant.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
Jafar Panahi has been tapped for the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, cementing the Iranian director’s status as one of cinema’s most defiant voices.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 July 2025
That defiant posture helped to reshape American politics.
—Michael Catanzaro, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 July 2025
On Monday, asked about the poll proposal at an unrelated event, Adams was defiant.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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The story follows Bárbara, rebellious and broke, who fakes her way into a convent for a private room and some peace—only to find herself on an unexpected spiritual journey.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
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The town’s rebellious spirit and dreamy beach backdrop attracted a who’s who in music, from Duke Ellington in the 1920s to Led Zeppelin, who skipped Woodstock in 1969 to play the Asbury Park Convention Hall.—
Jen Murphy,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
After all, in Andor, a rebel alliance pushes back against an emperor.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Aug. 2025
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Martial law and a state of emergency would be imposed in more than 60 townships across nine regions and states due to the threat of violence and insurgency, the report said, many in border areas where the military is facing unprecedented resistance from rebel groups.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For Baxter and the stubborn Scot, this marked, at last, the reality of war’s end.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
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Here’s the case for Scorpio: Wednesday is suss, secretive, brooding, vengeful and stubborn.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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