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
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
Escher's Relativity artwork features a room with staircases criss-crossing in a labyrinth-like way, with figures walking on them defying the laws of gravity.
—
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
In 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, both outsiders on a British Expedition, defied insurmountable odds to achieve what was once thought impossible, reaching the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Of course, even the U.S. Constitution can be undermined if a president defies the Supreme Court.
—Daniel Treisman, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
With the state suffering a $12 billion deficit and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco strongly calling for termination, the other Democratic candidates also need to defy the unions still pushing the project and come out sharply against it.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
In 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, both outsiders on a British Expedition, defied insurmountable odds to achieve what was once thought impossible, reaching the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Of course, even the U.S. Constitution can be undermined if a president defies the Supreme Court.
—Daniel Treisman, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
With the state suffering a $12 billion deficit and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco strongly calling for termination, the other Democratic candidates also need to defy the unions still pushing the project and come out sharply against it.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, rebuked Apple for thwarting a previous ruling in the lawsuit and said the company needed to be stopped from further disobeying the court.—
Tripp Mickle,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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She was taken to Troop A in Southbury and charged with engaging police in pursuit, interfering with an officer, disobeying the signal of an officer, operation of a motor vehicle under suspension and operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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No one would dare predict that an American man is going to be lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires June 8, but the current generation of American twenty-somethings is still taking promising baby steps in the City of Light.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
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Richardson, known for her daring spirit and difficult-to-beat top-end speed, brings several valuable qualities to the table that will set the ATHLOS league up for success.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Drawing from figures like James Baldwin and Richard Pryor, the artist confronts the failures of representation through works that are at once minimalist and deeply charged.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
4 June 2025
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If things feel overwhelming, consider this a green light to address the situation and confront what’s been lingering beneath the surface.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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This is especially true for decentralized finance (DeFi), which, by its nature, resists traditional regulatory models.—
Irina Heaver,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Serkis, of course, can’t resist playing a couple of parts himself and takes on the affable Rooster and Farmer Jones.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Verb
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What can also be said with certainty, however, is that — even ignoring, for one moment, the events that brought him to Chelmsford crown court in Essex, east of London — this is a story of what might have been.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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The economics are simply too compelling for businesses to ignore: A single AI system can process the workload of dozens of employees at a fraction of the usual labor cost.—
Adam Bowen,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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In creative domains, AI is generating art, music, and literature that challenges our assumptions about human uniqueness while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of aesthetic experience.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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All of those changes are being challenged in court.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Instead, as Apple heads into this year’s showcase, the company faces nagging questions about whether the nearly 50-year-old company has lost some of the mystique and innovative drive that turned it into a tech trendsetter.—
Michael Liedtke,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Palestinian medical residents faced extra obstacles when competing for positions in such fields as obstetrics and gynecology, which was Qasem Hassan’s preference.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Majorities oppose the imposition of tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, with approval ratings of just 27%, 29% and 36%, respectively.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2025
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot more vocally opposed pension sweeteners during her term, including a last-ditch attempt to convince Pritzker to veto firefighter pension legislation that was projected to add between $18 million and $30 million to the city’s annual bill.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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