Synonyms of defied

defied

verb

past tense of defy

1

as in disobeyed

to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of

in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disobeyed
• ignored
• violated
• mocked
• resisted
• dismissed
• opposed
• rejected
• rebelled (against)
• disregarded
• fought
• flouted
• breached
• withstood
• overlooked
• transgressed
• bucked
• scorned
• passed over
• revolted (against)
• disputed
• broke
• contested
• mutinied (against)
• combated
• scoffed (at)
• pooh-poohed
• disobliged
• infringed
• shrugged off
• winked (at)
• overpassed
• brushed (off)
• tuned out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• followed
• obeyed
• served
• complied (with)
• submitted (to)
• minded
• conformed (to)
• observed
• kept
• yielded (to)
• surrendered (to)
• deferred (to)
• conceded (to)
• stooped (to)
• capitulated (to)
• obliged
• cooperated (with)
• heard
• agreed (to)
• noted
• regarded
• marked
• attended
• noticed
• watched
• heeded
• goose-stepped (to)
• assented (to)
• acquiesced (to)
• acceded (to)
• listened (to)

2

as in dared

to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat

after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dared
• challenged
• confronted
• stumped
• braved
• faced
• bearded
• brazened
• breasted
• outbraved
• outfaced

3

as in confronted

to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage

a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confronted
• faced
• braved
• dared
• withstood
• resisted
• encountered
• bearded
• stood up to
• brazened
• met
• breasted
• challenged
• fought
• outbraved
• approached
• outfaced
• fronted
• stood
• affronted
• opposed
• battled
• accosted
• faced up (to)
• cornered
• repelled
• combated
• contended (with)
• squared (off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sidestepped
• avoided
• dodged
• ducked
• shirked
• eschewed
• shunned
• shook
• escaped
• evaded
• eluded
• funked

4

as in resisted

to refuse to give in to

a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resisted
• opposed
• withstood
• fought
• repelled
• bucked
• challenged
• contradicted
• thwarted
• contested
• countered
• disputed
• hindered
• baffled
• contended (with)
• frustrated
• balked
• combated
• battled
• stemmed
• obstructed
• checked
• foiled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submitted (to)
• succumbed (to)
• yielded (to)
• surrendered (to)
• bowed (to)
• stooped (to)
• gave in (to)
• capitulated (to)
• knuckled under (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defied

Rising from an impoverished background to become a celebrated stage star in Romania, the actress and directing debutante has defied all odds to reach the starry heights of the Lido. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

An artist who wrote more than 20 books and co-founded feminist institutions with Steinem and Jane Fonda, Morgan defied labels in love and politics. — Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

The agrarian thinker captured — and defied — the political moment. — Ryan Zickgraf, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026

With its slapstick mayhem and goofball charm, the film's oddball recruits defied the odds to become a smash at the box office. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Based on Volpentest’s memoir of the same name, the film chronicles the life of the quadruple congenital amputee who defied expectations to become one of the most accomplished Paralympic sprinters in history. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026

Ozon is the next economic pressure point Russia's economy has defied the skeptics. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

In ways that are hard to conceive of now, early-nineteenth-century politicians simply defied the Court. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Researchers spent decades trying to target a group of mutations called RAS — responsible for nearly a third of all human cancers — but the protein’s flat shape defied typical drugs. — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026