1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiance
That defiance made Hailey and Chris of interest to police.
—
Ruth Chenetz, CBS News, 31 May 2025
All that defiance, that longing to be understood while feeling purposefully misunderstood...
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 May 2025
His recent election victory is often attributed to his firm defiance of Trump’s musings about annexing Canada.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 29 May 2025
The look is in stark defiance of a proliferating security mentality in schools to stop active shooters.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Ruth Chenetz, CBS News, 31 May 2025
All that defiance, that longing to be understood while feeling purposefully misunderstood...
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 May 2025
His recent election victory is often attributed to his firm defiance of Trump’s musings about annexing Canada.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 29 May 2025
The look is in stark defiance of a proliferating security mentality in schools to stop active shooters.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
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Hulu's Emmy-winning series pushed far beyond the events in Margaret Atwood's 1985 book, building to a rebellion in the totalitarian, patriarchal nation where women are dehumanized and used as vessels for breeding.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
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While there were wins for the rebellion, Gilead lives on with many of June’s strongest allies trapped there at the start of the episode, like Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and Janine (Madeline Brewer).—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
26 May 2025
Noun
-
Thrasher’s bid to become FSU president initially drew some opposition, in part, because of his lack of an academic background.—
Dara Kam,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
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But Trump ordered a new review of the deal in April, softening his previous opposition to Nippon buying U.S. Steel.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
His aggression remains — Meyers is seeing just 3.59 pitches per plate appearance and has absurd numbers against the first pitch of a plate appearance — but has cut down on chasing in the middle of at-bats, allowing for some longer battles.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
-
Every day of inaction is an act of aggression against the system that protects our elders from poverty and indignity.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
Orozco’s stickers of abstraction posed the question of whether abstraction—denigrated to its lowest possible level—could now serve as a last sign of resistance and redemption from the totalitarian conditions of reification.—
Benjamin H. D. Buchloh,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
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After years of legal resistance, spot Bitcoin ETFs finally hit the US markets in early 2024, bringing in billions in capital inflows.—
Cloris Chen,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Several Republicans have already expressed objections to the legislation as approved by the House.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
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Maryland parents fight for right to opt kids out of LGBTQ+ school materials The school case surrounds parents’ objections in Maryland to books with LGBTQ+ characters that Montgomery County Public Schools, which is based in the Washington metro area, added to its curriculum in 2022.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Over the nearly 20 months since the hostilities began, Colin Clarke said there has been a radicalization effect in the U.S., particularly of the political left.—
Odette Yousef,
NPR,
28 May 2025
-
Opposition to the war became hostility toward our own military.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
The three Māori lawmakers declined to appear before the committee during its investigation, citing disrespect for their cultural traditions.—
Julia Zhong,
NBC news,
5 June 2025
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Kelce saw some disrespect in those rankings, coming in at No. 7 on the list.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
Noun
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In 2016, a British passenger flying Flybe—a now-defunct regional airline—from Amsterdam to Exeter was fined more than $600 for his disobedience.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2025
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The one who escalated the disobedience was the company under the direct command of its largest shareholder.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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