Synonyms of defies

defies

verb

present tense third-person singular of defy

1

as in disobeys

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

• disobeys
• ignores
• violates
• mocks
• resists
• rejects
• dismisses
• opposes
• rebels (against)
• disregards
• fights
• flouts
• overlooks
• scorns
• transgresses
• withstands
• passes over
• breaks
• breaches
• revolts (against)
• shrugs off
• pooh-poohs
• disputes
• scoffs (at)
• infringes
• combats
• disobliges
• brushes (off)
• mutinies (against)
• winks (at)
• tunes out
• contests
• bucks
• overpasses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follows
• obeys
• conforms (to)
• serves
• complies (with)
• minds
• yields (to)
• submits (to)
• surrenders (to)
• defers (to)
• concedes (to)
• keeps
• stoops (to)
• observes
• cooperates (with)
• agrees (to)
• capitulates (to)
• obliges
• hears
• heeds
• notices
• regards
• attends
• goose-steps (to)
• assents (to)
• accedes (to)
• marks
• acquiesces (to)
• listens (to)
• notes
• watches

2

as in dares

to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat

after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dares
• challenges
• confronts
• stumps
• braves
• breasts
• faces
• brazens
• outbraves
• beards
• outfaces

3

as in confronts

to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage

a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confronts
• faces
• dares
• withstands
• resists
• braves
• meets
• breasts
• encounters
• stands up to
• brazens
• outbraves
• stands
• beards
• approaches
• outfaces
• opposes
• fights
• challenges
• fronts
• affronts
• faces up (to)
• repels
• corners
• accosts
• contends (with)
• combats
• squares (off)
• battles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoids
• sidesteps
• shuns
• shirks
• eschews
• dodges
• eludes
• escapes
• evades
• ducks
• shakes
• funks

4

as in resists

to refuse to give in to

a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resists
• opposes
• withstands
• fights
• repels
• contradicts
• contends (with)
• hinders
• thwarts
• frustrates
• challenges
• counters
• bucks
• baffles
• obstructs
• stems
• disputes
• combats
• balks
• contests
• checks
• foils
• battles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yields (to)
• submits (to)
• succumbs (to)
• surrenders (to)
• gives in (to)
• bows (to)
• stoops (to)
• capitulates (to)
• knuckles under (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defies

This is the second recent case that defies sound judgment. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026

There is a casino that defies the laws of gravity, a planet made entirely of water populated by Bloopers (little white squid-like creatures), and a constellation of floating islands called the Honeyhive Galaxy, which is run by bees and dotted with giant pink flowers. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 31 Mar. 2026

Salah’s salary, like those of most footballers, defies specifics and is subject to permutations. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026

The Justice Department says that interpretation defies the plain text of the law. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026

Lendeborg’s success story defies the typical blue-chip narrative in basketball recruiting. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026

While the broader airline sector is weathering a storm of escalating costs and geopolitical fragmentation, Delta Air Lines (DAL) has managed to maintain an altitude that defies the market’s current gravitational pull. —Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026

The clash with Thune defies months of cooperation that helped Trump usher his Cabinet and signature tax cuts through Congress. —David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 16 Mar. 2026

There’s a chance Boozer defies those expectations. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 Mar. 2026