1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposition
the inclination to resist
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a deeply troubled person who seemed the very soul of defiance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defiance
To believe otherwise is to divert one’s gaze, naively, hoping others will manage the problem, keeping it from your doorstep — in defiance of the medicine and simple math.
—
Eric Snoey, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Smoking that cigarette is his last attempt at defiance.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
But with a ceasefire in place, Hamas quickly moved to quash defiance, aiming to cement the authority denied to them in the nascent agreement.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Produced by the Basra Cinema Center, of which Alkadumy is executive director, the film centers on Ahmed, a child with a speech impediment who is continually dismissed during Quranic lessons until defiance stirs within him, setting off a silent confrontation with his authoritative teacher.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Eric Snoey, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Smoking that cigarette is his last attempt at defiance.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
But with a ceasefire in place, Hamas quickly moved to quash defiance, aiming to cement the authority denied to them in the nascent agreement.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Produced by the Basra Cinema Center, of which Alkadumy is executive director, the film centers on Ahmed, a child with a speech impediment who is continually dismissed during Quranic lessons until defiance stirs within him, setting off a silent confrontation with his authoritative teacher.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
-
Readers meet Anne, who walks out of Eden not out of rebellion but love.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Netanyahu, meanwhile, faces rebellion from right-wing ministers who want to block a path to Palestinian statehood and annex the West Bank.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Often, one of the pair is more offensive or box-to-box in their profile, with the other being more of a traditional, defensive-minded midfielder whose strengths are to break up opposition attacks.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The measure was adopted along with other items as part of the board's consent agenda with no opposition.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Although the balloon incident has not been directly linked to Moscow, Lithuania's border closures add to tensions spiked by accusations of Russian incursions into NATO airspace amid Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Because taking league matches to America, Australia, Saudi Arabia or anywhere else would be an act of aggression.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Either of these original conditions would compel us to curb our aspirations to self-making, self-saving, and self-liberation as harmful forms of willfulness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
-
While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Reagan empowered Afghanistan’s resistance to the Soviet invasion – escalating Soviet losses and fueling discontent.—
Kathleen Collins,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The shelter had initially been targeted for a July 2025 opening, and has encountered fierce resistance from parts of the West Roxbury community since the state first began sharing its intention to house homeless families there last spring.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Just nothing, not dictating at the point of attack, no aggressiveness to it at all.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness in the Gleason grading system, which ranges from 6 to 10, with 10 being the most aggressive.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The rebelliousness can be witnessed in everything from its ’70s-in-California style to the very naming conventions Mother chooses for its viral products — adored by A-listers like Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Millie Bobby Brown, and more.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Footwear News,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The federal agency’s power to green-light sports betting nationwide is the subject of legal objections from states and tribal groups.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Few beside farmers voice objections.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share