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
That is a recipe for political disruption that defies classic lines between Republicans and Democrats and between conservatives and liberals − particularly among younger voters who have less history with and allegiance to either party.
—
Susan Page, USA Today, 12 Jan. 2026
The team behind the shock discovery (in more ways than one) is baffled by this beautiful arc of material, which defies expectations and current theories surrounding such stellar remains.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Jan. 2026
After a figure from his past escapes prison, Trent defies orders and opens up a search that threatens to revisit old wounds that he's worked so hard to get past.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Denim defies occasion, simplifies dressing, and can make your personal style shine.
—India Roby, Glamour, 9 Jan. 2026
House of the Dragon takes viewers to the height of the Targaryen dynasty, where King Viserys (Paddy Considine) defies centuries of tradition by naming his daughter, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), as heir to the Iron Throne.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
The idea refers to non-normative spaces in which a juxtaposition of scenes and stories allows the joining-together of divergent temporalities and locations in a way that defies patriarchal and authoritarian regulations of social and political topoi.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Yet the novel’s essential form openly defies the profit-seeking world.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
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
Susan Page, USA Today, 12 Jan. 2026
The team behind the shock discovery (in more ways than one) is baffled by this beautiful arc of material, which defies expectations and current theories surrounding such stellar remains.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Jan. 2026
After a figure from his past escapes prison, Trent defies orders and opens up a search that threatens to revisit old wounds that he's worked so hard to get past.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Denim defies occasion, simplifies dressing, and can make your personal style shine.
—India Roby, Glamour, 9 Jan. 2026
House of the Dragon takes viewers to the height of the Targaryen dynasty, where King Viserys (Paddy Considine) defies centuries of tradition by naming his daughter, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), as heir to the Iron Throne.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
The idea refers to non-normative spaces in which a juxtaposition of scenes and stories allows the joining-together of divergent temporalities and locations in a way that defies patriarchal and authoritarian regulations of social and political topoi.
—Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Yet the novel’s essential form openly defies the profit-seeking world.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defies
Verb
-
Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash As the Flynn family fractures under the strain of a failing open marriage and three daughters spiraling into dangerous secrets, their small coastal town is quietly dominated by a powerful shipping magnate no one dares to question.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The Sith, led by Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine) and Darth Vader, sit at the top of the food chain, but Maul still dares to build a criminal empire in the shadows.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Enoch confronts the celestial hosts, all wearing capes of swastika red under an oppressive horizon of jutting lightning and glaring orange mountains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When Bz points north, Earth’s field resists it; when Bz swings south, the two fields connect, allowing plasma to stream in.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Jaime resists Colby at first — not for long, really — after which, their physical interplay is presented with her pleasure as the priority.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
27 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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The lawsuit challenges 36 boat strikes since September that killed at least 126 people, the first legal case to question their legality under international law.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
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When so much of what’s wrong in the world is the narrowing and shrinking of our moral circles, a movement that effectively challenges that has to do the opposite.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The designation has since been renewed multiple times as the country faces a host of crises, including widespread violence by armed gangs, food insecurity, displacement and a leadership vacuum after the president was assassinated in 2021.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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As is customary when any White House official faces heat, discussion of potential replacements has been rampant.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
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 2 Feb. 2026.
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