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
Relevance
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
As advocates have pointed out, these qualifiers are vague enough that they could be wielded against anyone who expresses their sexuality or defies traditional gender roles.
—
Abby Monteil, Them., 7 Nov. 2025
Elphaba, meanwhile, uncovering the Wizard and Madame Morrible's nefarious plot, defies them all — and gravity in the process — breaking out of the Emerald City on broomstick and whizzing off into sunset.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Still, Fred and his son, eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe, clearly believe the Knob Creek lineup is the place for these ultra-aged bourbons, and the good news is that this new release defies expectations and is actually pretty damn good.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2025
Andrew is part philosopher, part fighter — a man who defies easy categorization, bridging worlds that rarely meet.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Taken together, these triumphal and tragic elements constitute the ingredients for an epic historical narrative that defies all moralistic categories, a story rooted in the coexistence of grandeur and failure, brilliance and blindness, grace and sin.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
When Jones goes missing, Fajardo directs Sullivan to return to camp, but Sullivan defies those orders and goes AWOL to locate Jones.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Nkrumah was crucial in jumpstarting the Ghanaian film industry, building a studio to produce work that conveys an Africa that defies the expectations promoted by colonizers.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, Anderson’s latest may be the rare film that defies category lines with a blend of high-concept spectacle and political farce.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Abby Monteil, Them., 7 Nov. 2025
Elphaba, meanwhile, uncovering the Wizard and Madame Morrible's nefarious plot, defies them all — and gravity in the process — breaking out of the Emerald City on broomstick and whizzing off into sunset.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Still, Fred and his son, eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe, clearly believe the Knob Creek lineup is the place for these ultra-aged bourbons, and the good news is that this new release defies expectations and is actually pretty damn good.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2025
Andrew is part philosopher, part fighter — a man who defies easy categorization, bridging worlds that rarely meet.
—Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Taken together, these triumphal and tragic elements constitute the ingredients for an epic historical narrative that defies all moralistic categories, a story rooted in the coexistence of grandeur and failure, brilliance and blindness, grace and sin.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
When Jones goes missing, Fajardo directs Sullivan to return to camp, but Sullivan defies those orders and goes AWOL to locate Jones.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Nkrumah was crucial in jumpstarting the Ghanaian film industry, building a studio to produce work that conveys an Africa that defies the expectations promoted by colonizers.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, Anderson’s latest may be the rare film that defies category lines with a blend of high-concept spectacle and political farce.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defies
Verb
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This season dares us to decide if their hookup is a betrayal or the most honest thing either of them have done all series.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
18 Dec. 2025
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If someone else dares to attempt to do any of these tasks, then all hell breaks loose!—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Freedom of assembly and association has deteriorated, while independent civil society confronts shrinking space to operate.—
Tharo Khun,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
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On a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay, a deeply rooted Christian fishing community confronts the erosion of land and tradition, as their centuries-old way of life, anchored in faith, approaches a turning point.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Writer-director Craig Brewer resists the temptation to make Mike and Claire in any way pitiful or worthy of derision.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Everything is wrapped in a Ceraluminum ceramic finish that resists fingerprints and scratches while feeling premium in hand.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In episode six, Max and Holly find the memory that Henry has been hiding from, and while Max kind of ignores it, Holly hangs back and watches how Henry is affected by having killed that man.—
Derek Lawrence,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Jan. 2026
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That demand ignores long-standing practice, misunderstands the Bears’ legal obligations and risks undermining one of Illinois’ most important economic assets.—
Don DeWitte,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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January challenges you to reconcile comfort with growth.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
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It’s been framing its fight against Disney as one for consumers, a case that challenges the old guard’s pricing playbook.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, the company faces the same existential headwinds that have scared other would-be moguls away from the news business.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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At Barton Creek Technologies, Anna Chen, the chief human resources officer, faces a dilemma over the company’s performance improvement plan (PIP).—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Roarke LaCoursiere, with the Indiana Catholic Conference, said the organization opposes the bill because while its members stand with the victims and their families, the death penalty doesn’t bring about justice.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
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The governor rightly opposes raising nation-leading personal income taxes but may be cracking open the door to raising business or other taxes to respond to federal cuts.—
Andrew Rein,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defies. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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