Synonyms of defiant

defiant

adjective

di-ˈfī-ənt 

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control

the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellious
• rebel
• stubborn
• willful
• contrary
• disobedient
• adamant
• contumacious
• dogged
• mischievous
• unruly
• rigid
• wayward
• recalcitrant
• insubordinate
• obstreperous
• naughty
• restive
• intractable
• ungovernable
• refractory
• dissident
• balky
• unrelenting
• froward
• wild
• rude
• untoward
• resistant
• recusant
• insurgent
• uncooperative
• uncontrollable
• incompliant
• obstinate
• bad
• mutinous
• uncompromising
• headstrong
• implacable
• obdurate
• opinionated
• peevish
• unbending
• unyielding
• mulish
• negativistic
• noncooperative
• hardheaded
• inflexible
• pertinacious
• immovable
• fractious
• unmanageable
• impudent
• adamantine
• insolent
• pigheaded
• disrespectful
• monkeying
• wrongheaded
• disorderly
• undisciplined
• perverse
• nonconformist
• self-willed
• ornery
• errant
• ungracious
• uncouth
• discourteous
• inconsiderate
• impertinent
• unmannerly
• impolite
• uncivil
• misbehaving
• ill-mannered
• monkeyish
• ill-natured
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obedient
• docile
• submissive
• compliant
• cooperative
• amiable
• amenable
• deferential
• tractable
• acquiescent
• agreeable
• conformable
• behaved
• respectful
• disciplined
• polite
• yielding
• biddable
• courteous
• obliging
• well-bred
• servile
• ruly
• obsequious
• subservient
• orderly
• slavish
• proper
• decorous
• mannerly
• manageable
• controllable
• trainable
• kowtowing
• governable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defiant

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remained defiant on Sunday, vowing to press ahead with potentially painful reforms to Europe's biggest economy, after suffering a bruising electoral setback in two state elections. — CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

As a result, Brown has positioned himself as someone who has stayed defiant in the face of those who would unfairly try to bring him down. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Within 48 hours after Scott’s death, a photo of Winston — shirtless and defiant — made international news. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Teams — worried about how a politically defiant Black quarterback on the roster would impact their bottom lines — over the next several seasons signed dozens of inferior quarterbacks to round out their depth charts. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026