1
as in to disobey
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to confront
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
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4
as in to resist
to refuse to give in to
a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defy
In 1951, when the actress Gale Sondergaard petitioned SAG to support her intention to defy HUAC, the guild rebuffed her.
—
Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 28 Feb. 2026
The dance world has often based its plaudits on how spectacularly performers can defy gravity with leaps, kicks and twirls.
—Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
No Wicked movie here, this is defying gravity!
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
With a strong emphasis on sustainability and quality, Totême resonates with those seeking modern essentials that defy fleeting trends.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defy
Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 28 Feb. 2026
The dance world has often based its plaudits on how spectacularly performers can defy gravity with leaps, kicks and twirls.
—Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
No Wicked movie here, this is defying gravity!
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
With a strong emphasis on sustainability and quality, Totême resonates with those seeking modern essentials that defy fleeting trends.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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In the internal report, an ICE agent wrote that Martinez appeared intoxicated or impaired and disobeyed verbal instructions to stop and exit his vehicle.—
Bayliss Wagner,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Feb. 2026
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What is the penalty for disobeying a traffic signal?—
Emery Glover,
Des Moines Register,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The question is whether that arithmetic satisfies voters who have watched Coogler build one of the most ambitious and formally daring studio films of the decade.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
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Baylor was determined to make Miles a scorer, according to head coach Nicki Collen, and when Miles was involved in pick-and-roll action, Baylor defenders went underneath the screen and dared Miles to take jumpshots.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The filing also alleges that video shows Seitz crossed the street after the altercation had initially been quelled, and ran to confront Hernandez and Austin a second time.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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After a foul was called to stop play, Jokic got back on his feet and confronted the Thunder wing, putting his chest into Dort’s.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Alfredo Muñoz has multiple prior arrests for burglary, assault, vehicle theft and weapons and drug offenses as well as resisting arrest, according to court records.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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The Clintons initially strongly resisted the subpoenas from the committee and vowed to mount a legal fight if necessary.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some designers find success ignoring social media altogether.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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However, accuracy ignores the other effects of bombs—especially the blast radius.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To challenge an insurer’s assertion in New York or many other states that material is a trade secret, requesters must make a public records filing for the material through their department of insurance.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
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Acosta attempts By the time Epstein’s probation was over in 2010, Epstein was facing intense new scrutiny, as dozens of underage girls began filing federal civil lawsuits against him, including one that challenged the legality of his deal and threatened to put him in prison.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But now, with the bloodless spectacle of a button being pushed to prompt a computer to decide the league-phase fixtures, then variables for the knockouts limited to deciding which of two pre-determined teams the winners of the play-offs would face, the old way actually seems quite diverting.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Tourists in trouble Japan is facing a sharp rise in ski and snowboard accidents involving foreign tourists this season.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Based on similar moral panics among Democratic politicos proposing bans on new data center development from Oregon to Georgia, the Left seems ready to unite to oppose AI because of its extraordinary potential for economic productivity.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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The proposal faced pushback from Councilmember Steve Goble, who said his constituents would likely oppose putting a dispensary in their neighborhood.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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