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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defies
The novel’s meaning also defies a unifying understanding.
—
Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Desert Warrior is set in seventh-century Arabia, where Princess Hind (Hart) defies her fate, refusing to become a concubine to the ruthless Emperor Kisra (Kingsley).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Or mention the manner in which Elordi somehow defies basic physics and lifts Robbie up by her corset strings.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Such name-calling defies the typical Idaho Republican approach, observers say.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
The British premiere also stars Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas, and Lorraine Toussaint, examining an ambitious Black reporter who defies her editor to pursue an incendiary lead.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Today, the hotel happily defies headlines about Kyoto’s overtourism issues.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Congress looks increasingly deadlocked, public opposition to his aggressive moves at home and abroad mounts, and the central issue for many Americans – cost-of-living concerns – defies easy solutions.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Robert Price, a Gladstone resident who joined the protest, said the way the country has approached immigration enforcement defies its values.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Desert Warrior is set in seventh-century Arabia, where Princess Hind (Hart) defies her fate, refusing to become a concubine to the ruthless Emperor Kisra (Kingsley).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Or mention the manner in which Elordi somehow defies basic physics and lifts Robbie up by her corset strings.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Such name-calling defies the typical Idaho Republican approach, observers say.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
The British premiere also stars Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas, and Lorraine Toussaint, examining an ambitious Black reporter who defies her editor to pursue an incendiary lead.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Today, the hotel happily defies headlines about Kyoto’s overtourism issues.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Congress looks increasingly deadlocked, public opposition to his aggressive moves at home and abroad mounts, and the central issue for many Americans – cost-of-living concerns – defies easy solutions.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Robert Price, a Gladstone resident who joined the protest, said the way the country has approached immigration enforcement defies its values.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defies
Verb
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Still, a young kid is a young kid no matter the era, and to fulfill his wish of seeing real dinosaurs, Arco disobeys his parents.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Is anything more engaging than a good murder mystery—one that dares you to guess who did it, and why?—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
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And anyone who dares to peek behind the curtain—journalists, dissident professors, activists, even, bizarrely, the Iranian president himself—becomes a threat to the regime.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Future industrial sustainability As ByteDance prepares for a broader international rollout, the industry confronts a fundamental sustainability challenge.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
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But the detective on his tail (Motsi Tekateka) never confronts him with a shred of evidence.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If a partner or key ally resists a plan, ask what outcome matters most to them before offering your creative solution.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
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Friction-maxxing, originally coined to describe a parenting strategy that resists using a screen to address a child’s behavior, is now used to push back against the culture of convenience.—
Allan Smith,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Once a frame is captured, the chip ignores the full image and registers only moving objects.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
College play can now pay a lot more and prove much more marketable, given that media largely ignores the minor leagues.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pippa challenges Wrigley on why the guys never hold Stephen accountable.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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In the video, one Palestinian insults Levi and another challenges him to shoot.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Under the leadership of coach Javier Mascherano, Miami faces a new season with a mix of experience and youth.—
Jad El Reda
Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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Fifty-year-old Daniel Taylor, a professor of marketing and supply chain management at the university’s Rawls College of Business, faces a charge of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Councilor Jesse Brown, who represents the area just south of the site in question, opposes the project.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
12 Feb. 2026
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Bolton opposes the developer’s plan to move the live oak, arguing that moving the tree could kill it.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defies. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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