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
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Recent Examples of defied
For its part, the stock market has defied financial fears during recent government shutdowns.
—
Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
The goal of our list is to highlight trailblazing women who have defied the odds — women now run a record 11% of Fortune 500 companies, a number that’s been on the rise over the past decade.
—Cnbc.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Their immediate affinity, set at the very height of the Cold War, represents a common European culture based on reading and the arts that defied borders and ideologies.
—Audiofile Magazine
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Redford, like several others of his generation, defied the myth that political roles would be career-killers.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
True to form, the two-time major champion responded quickly -- though in a manner that defied expectations.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
That was the motto for many years as the Islanders defied expectations often, reaching the conference finals in back-to-back seasons five years ago.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The real-life story of karate fighter Sandra Sánchez, who defied age, odds and expectations to become the greatest karateka of all time — and an Olympic gold medalist at 39.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
The momager defied all concepts of aging and, in fact, looked like her kids' sisters with her youthful glow.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
The goal of our list is to highlight trailblazing women who have defied the odds — women now run a record 11% of Fortune 500 companies, a number that’s been on the rise over the past decade.
—Cnbc.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Their immediate affinity, set at the very height of the Cold War, represents a common European culture based on reading and the arts that defied borders and ideologies.
—Audiofile Magazine
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Redford, like several others of his generation, defied the myth that political roles would be career-killers.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
True to form, the two-time major champion responded quickly -- though in a manner that defied expectations.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
That was the motto for many years as the Islanders defied expectations often, reaching the conference finals in back-to-back seasons five years ago.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The real-life story of karate fighter Sandra Sánchez, who defied age, odds and expectations to become the greatest karateka of all time — and an Olympic gold medalist at 39.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
The momager defied all concepts of aging and, in fact, looked like her kids' sisters with her youthful glow.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defied
Verb
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Along with allied criminal groups, the syndicate’s crimes led to the deaths of 10 people who disobeyed the group’s management or tried to escape the compounds, according to the Chinese court’s statement.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What’s clear is that the power of that institution is now in the hands of hacks who clock in every single morning determined solely to purge this country of any citizen who ever dared to challenge or dislike this president.—
Billy Ray,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
-
But the two Prime Ministers who dared to suggest freezing the highest public pensions were immediately voted out of office by both the Left and Marine Le Pen’s far-right.—
Renaud Foucart,
Time,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When officers eventually entered the property, they were confronted with a shocking sight.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Following a trip to Bash Steed’s villainous lair, our trio returns home, where they’re confronted by Renée Zellweger’s Camila White.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Many salaried workers at General Motors initially resisted the return to the office policy.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The move is a departure for an organization that has resisted significant leadership changes under the ownership of the Monfort family.—
Melissa Lockard,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The litigation in that case resolved hundreds of lawsuits alleging the company ignored red flags while filling prescriptions for opioid pain medication.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Mun-ju doesn’t plan to fall for San-ho so quickly after her husband’s death, but the heightened emotion of life-or-death situations spur a sizzling chemistry and deep connection that cannot be ignored.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump officials have been warned internally that permanent firings during the shutdown could be effectively challenged as violations of appropriations law, according to a senior government official.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
-
What unites all these titles is the fact they’ve been challenged by courts in Colorado or around the country.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hundreds of other homes, like Harrington's, faced major damages.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Once again, Weaver faced three batters to start the seventh inning and didn’t get any of them out, allowing a walk to Daulton Varsho before Anthony Santander singled and Andrés Giménez cracked an RBI single.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The renewal of the state’s 421-a property tax exemption for the construction of affordable housing in 2022 was opposed by Democratic City Comptroller Brad Lander and Big Labor groups.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Oct. 2025
-
As of the end of last week, the court had approved 20 requests from the president to block lower court orders that opposed the administration.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defied. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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