as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
There was something gorgeous in their voices, and defiant as well.
—
Natalia Paradies, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
On Monday afternoon, Petro remained defiant.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
This Irish American neighborhood is famous for its quirky upside-down traffic light, where green proudly sits above red—a symbol of its defiant community spirit.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Isaac is delightful as Victor, brilliant, egotistical and with a flair for the theatrical, a defiant outsider consumed with the idea of making life from death.
—Lindsey Bahr, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Natalia Paradies, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
On Monday afternoon, Petro remained defiant.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
This Irish American neighborhood is famous for its quirky upside-down traffic light, where green proudly sits above red—a symbol of its defiant community spirit.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Isaac is delightful as Victor, brilliant, egotistical and with a flair for the theatrical, a defiant outsider consumed with the idea of making life from death.
—Lindsey Bahr, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
-
Silicon Valley definitely has so much of that rebellious spirit.—
Andre Byik,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
-
On Tracker, Ackles portrays Russell, Colter’s charismatic and rebellious older brother, who has a similar skill set and lack of stable home life.—
Katie Mannion,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Al-Sharaa led the rebel forces that toppled former Syrian President Bashar Assad last December and was named the country's interim leader in January.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
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Warriors from more than a dozen Native nations in the trans-Appalachian West helped the redcoats engage rebel forces, as did perhaps twenty-five thousand Black fugitives from slavery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That tone—of pain, of surprise, of a stubborn refusal to be reduced or diminished—is everywhere in it.—
Questlove,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
-
If the stain is stubborn, add a few drops of dish soap to the water and vinegar mixture.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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