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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
Yet Mohammadi remained defiant, even issuing boycott calls for the 2024 election that President Masoud Pezeshkian won.
—
ABC News, 1 May 2026
In her first public appearance since leaving Congress, Cherfilus-McCormick struck a defiant tone, framing her situation as a setback rather than an ending.
—Wpec Staff, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
While Metcalf’s Linda adopts a facade of stoicism to shield her family from the grief erupting in her, Abbott’s Biff is forced to reveal the broken man behind the defiant veneer.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Among the defiant political projects that marked Bernstein’s life was, of course, his sexuality.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiant
ABC News, 1 May 2026
In her first public appearance since leaving Congress, Cherfilus-McCormick struck a defiant tone, framing her situation as a setback rather than an ending.
—Wpec Staff, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
While Metcalf’s Linda adopts a facade of stoicism to shield her family from the grief erupting in her, Abbott’s Biff is forced to reveal the broken man behind the defiant veneer.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Among the defiant political projects that marked Bernstein’s life was, of course, his sexuality.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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Artist Sean Gordon Murphy has always had a rebellious indie streak to his work.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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The Clash are singing of a city aflame, the Sex Pistols are somehow getting more popular after imploding on tour, and on every street corner, mohawks and safety pins are on rebellious display.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Authorities say Saturday’s attack was perpetrated by the Central General Staff, EMC, a rebel group under the command of infamous ex-FARC commander Ivan Mordisco.—
Alfie Pannell,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
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Colombia’s defense minister on Sunday said that kidnappings and lockdowns enforced by rebel groups on communities had decreased in Cauca over the past year because of the government's actions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Abby, how does one work with stubborn husbands?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
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Ahead, Katie Sullivan, the director of issue communications at the American Cleaning Institute, shares the best way to remove sticky, greasy residue from pot lids, at-home solutions for tackling even the most stubborn residue, and the one mistake to avoid that can make cleanup more difficult.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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