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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 defied
Democrats have spent millions of dollars trying to unseat him but – with one exception in 2018 – Valadao has defied the odds by winning in a majority-Latino district where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.
—
Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Trump signed an executive order to prohibit schools from allowing biological males to play in girls' sports in February, but the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has persistently defied it.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Laura Dern has long defied that fate.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Unlike the actors from that era, however, the DB5 has defied age and maintained its relevance throughout the more than six decades since its premiere.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2025
New York — The stock market rally has already defied expectations this year, shrugging off geopolitical strife, economic uncertainty and global trade tensions to reach fresh record highs.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
While Virginia has leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections, its gubernatorial contests have often defied national trends.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
But Trump’s foreign policy has also defied the predictions of his critics.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
At a time when young shoe labels are struggling to make a mark, Jurgita Dileviciute and Denitsa Bumbarova have defied the odds.
—Katie Abel, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Trump signed an executive order to prohibit schools from allowing biological males to play in girls' sports in February, but the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has persistently defied it.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Laura Dern has long defied that fate.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Unlike the actors from that era, however, the DB5 has defied age and maintained its relevance throughout the more than six decades since its premiere.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2025
New York — The stock market rally has already defied expectations this year, shrugging off geopolitical strife, economic uncertainty and global trade tensions to reach fresh record highs.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
While Virginia has leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections, its gubernatorial contests have often defied national trends.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
But Trump’s foreign policy has also defied the predictions of his critics.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
At a time when young shoe labels are struggling to make a mark, Jurgita Dileviciute and Denitsa Bumbarova have defied the odds.
—Katie Abel, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defied
Verb
-
Harvick said the agency gave lawful orders for the crowd to move back, which were disobeyed.—
Daniella Silva,
NBC news,
20 Oct. 2025
-
This was neither the first nor the last time that Patton disobeyed an order.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The actor infamously played Jeff, the hunky diner manager who dared to come between the show's endgame couple.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
One man, Lawrence Bergreen, dared to step into the breach and write about Columbus in the way only historians of substance can.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When confronted, the student reportedly denied it but refused to provide the staffer with his backpack, according to the complaint.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The school called my mom, who confronted the teacher.—
Erin Silvia,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Republicans ultimately resisted a similar push by Trump during his first term, and 60 votes are still needed for most measures.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Sliwa has resisted calls to exit the race, as some Cuomo supporters have argued his decision to stay on the ballot only splits the Republican and centrist vote, bolstering Mamdani’s prospects.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a separate statement to Whittier Daily News, Rowley claimed that the city had ignored complaints about upraised sidewalks caused by tree roots for years, and stated the city had not implemented adequate inspection protocols.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Kim Kardashian's refusal to watch Fatal Attraction is not going to be ignored by Kris Jenner, thank you very much!—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As the conversation turned to Haliburton, Antetokounmpo challenged Turner to say three nice things about his former All-Star point guard.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
They’ve been challenged in a competitive landscape as video and broadband customers defect Comcast is now trying hard to right the ship, with some promising signs in the third quarter numbers reported this morning.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The president and his party have faced three corruption scandals this year, while Argentina’s slowing economy and frustration with high unemployment rates helped push Milei’s approval to the lowest level of his term ahead of the vote.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Waupun Correctional Institution has also faced a series of deaths among those incarcerated there in recent years and is now under investigation by federal officials over how drugs and contraband were smuggled inside.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But animal welfare experts raised several concerns to Public Investigator, including the size of the animal enclosures and the zoo’s breeding of a white tiger, which is opposed by conservation organizations like the World Wildlife Fund.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that jail clothing assists with safety and identification.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defied. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share