1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
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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
In keeping with the show’s defiance of mortality, Lee and Lifeson seemed to have almost aged in reverse since 2015, with Lifeson notably trimmer and musically nimble, and Lee pummeling his bass while skipping around the stage faster than any 72-year-old should be able to manage.
—
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026
Tehran had threatened retaliation on Sunday after Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs without warning in defiance of Washington's request days ago not to hit the Lebanese capital.
—Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 8 June 2026
After defeating Chwalinska in straight sets, Andreeva took time at the end of her acceptance speech to speak Russian, seemingly in defiance of the vilification due to her ethnic heritage by the tennis governing bodies and opposing players.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
That came after Israel continued bombing Lebanon in defiance of Washington’s request days ago to stand down.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026
Tehran had threatened retaliation on Sunday after Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs without warning in defiance of Washington's request days ago not to hit the Lebanese capital.
—Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 8 June 2026
After defeating Chwalinska in straight sets, Andreeva took time at the end of her acceptance speech to speak Russian, seemingly in defiance of the vilification due to her ethnic heritage by the tennis governing bodies and opposing players.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
That came after Israel continued bombing Lebanon in defiance of Washington’s request days ago to stand down.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
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Coupled with the music, the bites have a sense of rebellion, but this isn’t outright middle finger food.—
Colin Wrenn,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
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As Season 2 unfolds, the two young couples will be tested and separated once again by forces beyond their control, as every clan chooses a side in the rebellion.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Yet other, more controversial projects, exacting irreversible change to capital institutions, are facing greater opposition.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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The Armenia Alliance bloc led by former President Robert Kocharyan is hovering around 10%, while the rest of the splintered opposition remained in the mid to low single digits.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Following his Game 1 sluggishness, Wembanyama played with more aggression and decisiveness.—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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The teen witness said Hunter Metcalf, the victim’s twin brother, told Anthony to leave in an escalating tone of aggression.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
Noun
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Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The 50-bed facility to be built in one of Kenya’s largest air force bases was expected to be operational by Friday, but has faced massive resistance from opposition leaders, health workers, and civil society.—
Martin K.N Siele,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
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Today’s players are reminded of the labor battles their predecessors went through, and the resistance to any sort of salary limit is just as unyielding.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Lurie partly values Roseman because of his strategic aggressiveness to make sure great players are locked down long term.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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Some more aggressiveness on the bases as well.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Noun
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The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
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The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Panahi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, announced on Sunday that the Tehran Revolutionary Court has rejected his objections to the rule and has upheld the verdict in full.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
7 June 2026
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The zoo’s petition cites several objections to data centers that have been hotly debated nationwide, including their impact on electricity and water resources.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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