as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
The candidate, wearing Nikes and a suit but no tie — not too buttoned up — struck a defiant tone.
—
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Wearing sunglasses inside the Allegheny County Courthouse, 45-year-old Jeremy Brokaw was defiant after his littering fines were reduced from nearly $50,000 to $1,500.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Despite the controversy, MacCormack doubled down on his remarks Wednesday and remained defiant against the criticism by leaders, saying that the Republican Party needs more young, outspoken, hard-charging conservatives like him.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2026
The visual subtext is also defiant and uncompromising – notice the two stars on the throne and the AFCON trophy being protected by the Teranga Lions?
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Wearing sunglasses inside the Allegheny County Courthouse, 45-year-old Jeremy Brokaw was defiant after his littering fines were reduced from nearly $50,000 to $1,500.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Despite the controversy, MacCormack doubled down on his remarks Wednesday and remained defiant against the criticism by leaders, saying that the Republican Party needs more young, outspoken, hard-charging conservatives like him.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2026
The visual subtext is also defiant and uncompromising – notice the two stars on the throne and the AFCON trophy being protected by the Teranga Lions?
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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As a whole, the return of the Ninja 300 feels almost rebellious in today's motorcycle market.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 13,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
-
Difficult teenage years with lots of poor decisions and rebellious behavior.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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In a sport long defined by its rigidity and rigorous training, Liu, 20, is a rebel and role model for simply loving to skate.—
Alice Park,
Time,
9 June 2026
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De la Espriella has promised to cancel the talks and take a more confrontational approach to rebel groups that includes using airplanes to spray coca fields with herbicides.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
Researchers have been looking into ways to reduce the stubborn inflammation HIV causes in the central nervous system.—
Smita S. Iyer,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
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The findings, published in 2025 in Brain Stimulation, point to a fundamentally new way of treating one of the most stubborn psychiatric conditions, using a miniaturized implant that delivers brief bursts of stimulation only during key moments of exposure therapy.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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