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
In a defiant address to the nation on Monday night, Rajoelina said that he had been forced to move to a safe place because of threats to his life.
—
CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
For its part, Beijing remained defiant, with the commerce ministry saying Sunday that China doesn’t want a tariff war but is also not afraid of one.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
That defiant stance drew condemnation from Republican leaders, who accused Democrats of playing political games.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 9 Oct. 2025
What unites these screen works, beyond their focus on LGBTQ individuals, themes and audiences, is their defiant messaging, according to NewFest’s director of programming, Nick McCarthy.
—Elaina Patton, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
For its part, Beijing remained defiant, with the commerce ministry saying Sunday that China doesn’t want a tariff war but is also not afraid of one.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
That defiant stance drew condemnation from Republican leaders, who accused Democrats of playing political games.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 9 Oct. 2025
What unites these screen works, beyond their focus on LGBTQ individuals, themes and audiences, is their defiant messaging, according to NewFest’s director of programming, Nick McCarthy.
—Elaina Patton, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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As for the Banks sisters, Ashley (Akira Akbar) works through a rebellious phase during her freshman year as Hilary (Coco Jones) goes on a journey of self-exploration.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
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To be clear, there is no sense that Rondón and Ugás are defending the old guard or suggesting that a docile, starving population pinioned under the grip of a dictatorship is big-picture preferable to a rebellious insurgency.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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An elderly man sits on the floor, dozens of bodies lying around him, before a Sudanese rebel fighter approaches and shoots him.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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The 64-year-old actor famously portrays rebel leader Morpheus, captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, in the hit sci-fi action film franchise.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That individual brilliance which can produce a moment of magic to break open a stubborn defence is harder to come by.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Be sure to pay extra attention to stubborn stains.—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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