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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defied
In an absolutely unreal rally following an early deficit, Ecuador has defied the odds to beat group leader Germany here in New Jersey.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
While Haiti didn’t win its match against Morocco, fans were jubilant about being able to cheer on their team, which defied the odds to play in its first World Cup stint since the ’70s.
—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
And in a dispute between federal and state law that defied the customary ideological split between conservatives and liberals, the justices blocked thousands of lawsuits against the weedkiller Roundup.
—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Last season, the Hawks defied expectations following their midseason trade of franchise face Trae Young, entering the playoffs as of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference.
—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Instead Warsh defied many analysts' expectations with a hawkish news conference that prompted markets to raise their projections for interest rates.
—
Matt Peterson,steve Liesman,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
However, the all-female fest defied the odds to become the top-grossing touring festival of 1997.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Linwood Carlton retreated to a bedroom in the home and defied orders to surrender, the sheriff’s office said.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
Time and again, form, fate, and football have aligned, and relatively unfancied teams have defied all expectations to go deep into the tournament.
—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
While Haiti didn’t win its match against Morocco, fans were jubilant about being able to cheer on their team, which defied the odds to play in its first World Cup stint since the ’70s.
—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
And in a dispute between federal and state law that defied the customary ideological split between conservatives and liberals, the justices blocked thousands of lawsuits against the weedkiller Roundup.
—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Last season, the Hawks defied expectations following their midseason trade of franchise face Trae Young, entering the playoffs as of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference.
—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Instead Warsh defied many analysts' expectations with a hawkish news conference that prompted markets to raise their projections for interest rates.
—
Matt Peterson,steve Liesman,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
However, the all-female fest defied the odds to become the top-grossing touring festival of 1997.
—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Linwood Carlton retreated to a bedroom in the home and defied orders to surrender, the sheriff’s office said.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
Time and again, form, fate, and football have aligned, and relatively unfancied teams have defied all expectations to go deep into the tournament.
—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defied
Verb
-
However, all of the city’s fire stations seemingly disobeyed the mayor by lowering their flags.
-
The group says Ensign misled courts, disobeyed court orders and failed to intervene when lawyers under his supervision engaged in misconduct.
Verb
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So before, this was a police state—and the only benefit of that was no one dared to commit crimes, particularly against a foreigner.
-
Not quite — the Adventist Development and Relief Agency dared to dream even bigger in 2024 with a 107-by-64-foot colossus assembled in Chile that holds the record to this day.
Verb
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The victim alleged that a short time later, the suspect confronted her again in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store, according to the police report.
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Officers confronted the man, who fled to Sonic and damaged a cash register in his attempt to evade capture, the report stated.
Verb
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In some parts of Mongbwalu, locals have fiercely resisted health responders too.
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However, the Fed has resisted additional rate cuts during the inflation surge this year.
Verb
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After years of exam leaks, persistently high youth unemployment, and opportunities slipping further out of reach, their simmering frustration is sparking a demand for accountability that many say can no longer be ignored.
-
Several states and agencies also charge for rescues, particularly when visitors have ignored warning signs.
Verb
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Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came out of the net to go for the ball, as a Ecuadorian player challenged the net.
-
Competitors are challenged to inspect damaged vehicles, identify structural and cosmetic damage, develop repair plans, prepare computerized repair estimates and evaluate total-loss scenarios using industry standards, the release said.
Verb
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Boyd, a fourth-generation farmer and longtime civil rights advocate, said generations of Black farmers have faced barriers accessing government loans and agricultural assistance programs.
-
During the 2024 school board elections, 27 of 47 prospective candidates faced objections, many of them from CTU, and more than a dozen were ultimately knocked off the ballot.
Verb
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Teamsters California, which represents 250,000 workers across dozens of industries, strongly opposed the DMV’s move to lift the ban on autonomous trucks.
-
The ruling marks the latest setback in Carr’s efforts to try dozens of activists who opposed construction of the training center.
Cite this Entry
“Defied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defied. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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