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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defy
Most bills still require 60 votes to creep forward, and there are no signs of that level of Senate support for so clearly defying Trump.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
Commenting on last week's raid, Noem said most of the South Korean nationals were being deported for defying removal orders, while a smaller number faced additional criminal charges.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Two, the Saints defy experts’ grades that place their roster last in the NFL or near it.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
The fall classical music season brings abundant new collaborations, with composers taking on genre-defying initiatives and organizations pooling resources to draw in top talent.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Philip Elliott, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
Commenting on last week's raid, Noem said most of the South Korean nationals were being deported for defying removal orders, while a smaller number faced additional criminal charges.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Two, the Saints defy experts’ grades that place their roster last in the NFL or near it.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
The fall classical music season brings abundant new collaborations, with composers taking on genre-defying initiatives and organizations pooling resources to draw in top talent.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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Fischer faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, disobeying traffic control signals, failure to drive in the proper lane, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to display plates and engaging police in a pursuit.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2025
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Yet, shortly after the district court granted plaintiffs' emergency motion for a temporary restraining order, defendants appear to have disobeyed it.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Hardy plays Tony, the new boyfriend of Tomlinson’s Judy Warren, who dares not confess to her parents how strong her connection to the supernatural world really is.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
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There is something feral in the onrush of Marlowe’s verse, with the gleam of bared teeth daring us to laugh.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Later that year, Cobb was charged with seven felonies related to confronting residents with a gun.—
Paul J. Becker,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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Marcie grows increasingly suspicious of Dennis and organizes a meeting at the end of the work day to confront him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Made with soft, four-way stretch fabric that resists wrinkles and pilling, they’re built to handle long flights and repeat wears.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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No one can resist a second helping of these comforting casseroles that were made for cool autumns.—
Phoebe Evans,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Still, sometimes the heat is impossible to ignore — evident in the small sweat stains on Dinkel’s blue collared shirt.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Carrie Severino, president of the conservative advocacy group Judicial Crisis Network, previously told the Washington Examiner that the justices have made recent orders more explicit and clear as lower court judges have ignored the Supreme Court’s previous orders on its emergency docket.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But over the past few years, conservatives have used the committee as a personal tool to subvert and challenge GOP leaders.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
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Foreign-aid organizations challenged the administration's ability to refuse to spend funds already allocated by Congress.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The swells will continue to build and increase along east-facing shorelines through the middle of the week, the hurricane center warned.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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As the season sets in, many face low mood and energy as shorter days and cooler temperatures lead to more social isolation.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Of course feel free to cheer whenever your team has done something worth celebrating, but don’t boo the other team or obnoxiously heckle the opposing fans under the tailgate tent whenever their team falls short.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
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In another example, Francis came out in support of civil unions for same-sex couples, something previously opposed by the Vatican’s doctrine office.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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