1
as in to disobey
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of
in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to confront
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
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4
as in to resist
to refuse to give in to
a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defy
Both clips have drawn widespread praise for showing Gunner in a positive light and defying the stereotype that all XL bullies are inherently dangerous.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The same way this writer/director took a hard left from the on-screen career millions have assumed for him since birth, his own creation defies expectations and crafts something far more memorable than any lukewarm nepo debut.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Ironically, Tim and Eric’s comedy is conspicuously absurdist, defying any notions of a message.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Nakase and the Valkyries defied all the odds in their inaugural season, overperforming what most experts believed was going to be a rocky, developmental year.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The same way this writer/director took a hard left from the on-screen career millions have assumed for him since birth, his own creation defies expectations and crafts something far more memorable than any lukewarm nepo debut.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Ironically, Tim and Eric’s comedy is conspicuously absurdist, defying any notions of a message.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Nakase and the Valkyries defied all the odds in their inaugural season, overperforming what most experts believed was going to be a rocky, developmental year.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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The next day, Alex begs Mia to put her on TMS to talk about the deep fake, but Mia won’t, because that would be directly disobeying Stella and Celine’s order for Alex to keep quiet.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
24 Sep. 2025
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Hamas has called on residents of Gaza City to disobey the evacuation order.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During his heyday, the Aussie was known for his daring feats on track, willing to break later than anyone and get past cars in an aggressive, but controlled manner.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
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Some models even dare to break the rules of size and shape.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Being social with family or housemates may feel off when the Sagittarius moon confronts Venus.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Mary Castlebury, who was a principal under Pendleton, said her superintendent helped her confront challenges as a fellow Black administrator.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Criminal court records reviewed by PEOPLE show the 35-year-old faces charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and a false report.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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But previous presidents have resisted the temptation to exploit them, and the law has served as a powerful norm notwithstanding its weaknesses.—
Elizabeth Goitein,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Since then, Moscow has expanded its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, while seemingly ignoring his overtures for further dialogue to end the conflict.—
Matthew Bodner,
NBC news,
25 Sep. 2025
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Certainly the idea that having a bunch of wealth will prevent you from getting into heaven has been conveniently ignored by many adherents.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ultimately, Sonder aims to challenge narrow definitions of masculinity by presenting a spectrum of intimacy and tension, and by highlighting its fluidity.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
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Moreover, winds from the southeast at 6 km/h may challenge players’ speed control on approach shots and putts.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Leading by 7, Kansas City faced a third-and-10 late that presented a tricky situation, given Butker’s struggles this season.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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The hospital did not face financial penalties after the incident and has not violated EMTALA since, according to federal inspection records.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The combination of DePrimeo and Rotondi simply overpowered Masco (3-1), and that duo is bound to cause nightmares for opposing lines all season.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
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However, the more subtle aspects of Goodman’s all-around game — pitch calling, receiving, and knowledge of opposing hitters — have been impressive.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
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