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
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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
The Smashing Machine defied both expectations.
—
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
After going 74-88 last season, the Blue Jays defied expectations and roared through the regular season with a 94-68 record.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But the Coyotes made history last year, when the men’s soccer team defied the odds by winning Cuyamaca’s first state championship.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Surprisingly, the outcome defied expectations.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
During the Mahomes era, the Chiefs have defied the odds several times to capture improbable victories.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
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
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
After going 74-88 last season, the Blue Jays defied expectations and roared through the regular season with a 94-68 record.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But the Coyotes made history last year, when the men’s soccer team defied the odds by winning Cuyamaca’s first state championship.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Surprisingly, the outcome defied expectations.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
During the Mahomes era, the Chiefs have defied the odds several times to capture improbable victories.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
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
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
-
No one dared ask if Cheney had severed contacts with his former business colleagues.—
Nina Khrushcheva,
Time,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Some younger viewers may have been initially puzzled by the mashup, but fans of a certain age, or of a certain show-tune leaning, got it from the very first bar, or might have even dared to anticipate it when Erivo and Grande sat down on stools, side by side.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Tellingly, the protesters in Nepal’s September uprising angrily confronted Indian TV crews, associating them with the country’s political crisis.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
While other Phoenix players confronted Horry about the foul, Suns forwards Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, who were getting up to check into the game, were deemed to have left the bench area and suspended for the critical Game 5.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Disney in particular, given its family-friendly brand, resisted entering the betting space for years, though the tide has turned for leagues and their media partners.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
-
As Border patrol arrested one individual, who actively resisted arrest, pepper spray was deployed spray to deter the agitator and disperse the crowd.—
NPR,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For weeks, the FDC, from its communication staff to Secretary Mark Inch, has ignored questions from reporters about how many inmates were being tested, how many tests were coming back positive, how many were coming back negative and how many were pending.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The woman expresses frustration that her financial reality seems ignored.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But a couple of decades later, the rise of big-box retailers that boasted lower prices, like Walmart and Target, challenged that supremacy.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
His bold approach has challenged both fans and music executives to see artists through a new lens.—
Evan Burke,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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However, even after the peace proposal, Israeli sports teams have faced opposition and exclusion.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously opposed the bill, citing concerns over potential retaliation against Israeli hostages held in Gaza.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The team’s lease with Arrowhead Stadium expires in January 2031, and Jackson County residents opposed the city’s sales tax proposal designed to help fund the stadiums for the Chiefs and MLB's Kansas City Royals.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defied. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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