as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
In others, the rebellious teenager drinks elsewhere.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
-
For a distillery known as much for its rebellious personality as its whisky, bringing back a bottle called Yellow Submarine feels pretty on-brand.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
But beyond this picturesque scene, there is a volatile combination of brutal rebel violence and a burgeoning Ebola outbreak.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
6 June 2026
-
Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias also have hindered the response.—
Mark Banchereau,
Chicago Tribune,
4 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
-
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 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
