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
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
However, there’s an unexpected twist that defies gender and generational boundaries.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The scale of riches amassed by Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, and Jeff Bezos, for instance, defies our ability to grasp rationally, yet Reich finds a way to capture it in understandable terms.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
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
However, there’s an unexpected twist that defies gender and generational boundaries.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The scale of riches amassed by Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, and Jeff Bezos, for instance, defies our ability to grasp rationally, yet Reich finds a way to capture it in understandable terms.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defies
Verb
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The new rare-earths restrictions can be deployed not only against the United States, but against any country that dares to oppose Xi’s will.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
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Yet no less worthy are the moments of self-correction, when a thinker dares to undo what once seemed certain.—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The interpreter eventually confronts the writer, telling her that Chizuko wants to protect an idealized version of her, not the real Ō Chizuru.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
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Even the climax of the film, when Bella confronts Edward about his vampire identity in the misty Washington forest, loses its dramatic edge thanks to Edward's emphatic rebuke of his predatory nature.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The research team revealed that plastination is a new method for managing moisture in wood by replacing water in the cellular structure with a silicone compound to create a durable, hydrophobic barrier that resists swelling, rotting, and cracking.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
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So, for me, that was the creation of the Anti-American Speech Committee, which is a government panel essentially designed to prosecute artists for holding views or creating work that resists basically the fascist state that has overtaken the American government.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … LIZ PEEK – AI layoffs could spark a socialist surge if America ignores the warning signs.—
,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Slashing aid for Colombia ignores the heart of the issue, said Idler.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An election next week in Wyandotte County will mirror former ones for sheriff, as Celisha Towers, a former sheriff's deputy, challenges incumbent Daniel Soptic for the seat.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
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The workforce challenges, tight timelines, and the requirements for building reliable chips are stricter than ever.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the program faces uncertainty if the shutdown persists.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
2 Nov. 2025
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In the Charlotte City Council’s District 6, Republican Krista Bokhari faces Democrat Kimberly Owens.—
Josh Bergeron,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even a relative newcomer, Curtis, opposes eliminating the filibuster.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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Chiwenga also opposes corruption by government and Zanu PF officials but was overruled at the party’s October conference.—
Tawanda Karombo,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defies. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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