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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defied
While captain at his previous club Crystal Palace, Guéhi defied the Football Association’s rules by writing religious messages on his uniform during a Premier League campaign celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion.
—
ABC News, 18 June 2026
When the researchers tested the membranes against real Arabian Extra Light crude oil, the results defied standard expectations.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
On the other hand, the person in charge here is Elon Musk, who has frequently defied skeptics and delivered the close to impossible.
—Vineer Bhansali, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
The company’s new label, King Snedley, defied every marketing totem and tradition ever created by the beer industry.
—Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2026
Her mother added that Millie has defied so many odds.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
With its violent and disgusting script, Se7en defied Hollywood conventions and was a perfect match for David Fincher, who was then known for directing Alien 3 (1992) along with gritty and inventive music videos.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Featuring a who’s-who of late-‘90s comedy talent and providing the meet-cute for Apatow and his future wife Leslie Mann, Stiller’s film threw everything at the wall to create a bold and darkly comic thriller that defied expectations.
—Simon Bland, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Duane Michals, one of the 20th century’s most important photographers, known for making sequences of images that conveyed enigmatic narratives and defied the conventions of the medium, died on Tuesday, June 9, at 94, in a Manhattan hospital.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026
ABC News, 18 June 2026
When the researchers tested the membranes against real Arabian Extra Light crude oil, the results defied standard expectations.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
On the other hand, the person in charge here is Elon Musk, who has frequently defied skeptics and delivered the close to impossible.
—Vineer Bhansali, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
The company’s new label, King Snedley, defied every marketing totem and tradition ever created by the beer industry.
—Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2026
Her mother added that Millie has defied so many odds.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
With its violent and disgusting script, Se7en defied Hollywood conventions and was a perfect match for David Fincher, who was then known for directing Alien 3 (1992) along with gritty and inventive music videos.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Featuring a who’s-who of late-‘90s comedy talent and providing the meet-cute for Apatow and his future wife Leslie Mann, Stiller’s film threw everything at the wall to create a bold and darkly comic thriller that defied expectations.
—Simon Bland, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Duane Michals, one of the 20th century’s most important photographers, known for making sequences of images that conveyed enigmatic narratives and defied the conventions of the medium, died on Tuesday, June 9, at 94, in a Manhattan hospital.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 11 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.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The group says Ensign misled courts, disobeyed court orders and failed to intervene when lawyers under his supervision engaged in misconduct.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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.—
Anusha Praturu,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
-
No Utah newspaper dared to run the stories, the pair said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Both tournaments brought disappointment and his reign as coach ended after being confronted at the team’s hotel in Abidjan by angry supporters.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Video of the incident shows Backs being confronted and falling backward.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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New York police executing a search warrant raided an LGBTQ+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, and some of the patrons resisted as officers continued interrogating them and bar employees.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Jurors found Othal Wallace, who resisted being detained, guilty of manslaughter, which carried a 30-year sentence.—
Jim Turner,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
Verb
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For the past five years, Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday, encouraging people across the country to reflect not only on the nation's tangled past with slavery, but the wider legacy of forgotten, ignored and intentionally buried stories about Black America.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
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Against such seismic personal developments, the simultaneous grown and depletion of White Rock and its environs happen at a far more gradual pace, but don’t go ignored by Choijoovanchig and his patient camera.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has challenged six regional grid operators to justify or overhaul their connection rules for massive electricity users, like AI data centers, within 60 days.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
For most leagues, this would be an open-and-shut case; a ban from the sport would never be challenged.—
Jemele Hill,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The administration quickly faced several lawsuits, and the Supreme Court is deciding one of those cases right now.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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Scrutiny continues Amid the fallout of the Epstein files, some of his closest ties in the modeling world have faced new scrutiny as models and survivors have called for accountability and further reform within the industry.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
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His death sparked celebration among Iranians who opposed his rule and despair from pro-regime loyalists.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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But residents heavily opposed the I-77 South project after NCDOT released preliminary designs for the roadway in November.—
Nicholas Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defied. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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