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
Many, if not most, published research papers have titles that defy comprehension.
—
Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
Key measures of the economy have proven resilient in recent months, defying fears of resurgent inflation and a possible economic downturn.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 July 2025
The young man with no shortage of confidence or bravado defies his father’s wishes, choosing esports over football, and bets on himself to make it to the top.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 4 July 2025
What To Know Two Republican senators, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky, defied Trump and joined all Democrats in voting against it.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
Key measures of the economy have proven resilient in recent months, defying fears of resurgent inflation and a possible economic downturn.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 July 2025
The young man with no shortage of confidence or bravado defies his father’s wishes, choosing esports over football, and bets on himself to make it to the top.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 4 July 2025
What To Know Two Republican senators, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky, defied Trump and joined all Democrats in voting against it.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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Summer classes and programs are still underway in South Florida and the county’s school zone cameras are still active, just waiting to mail you a ticket for disobeying the speed zone.—
Cordell Jones
July 6,
Miami Herald,
6 July 2025
-
Her word was law and anyone who disobeyed it was punished.—
Carolyn Wells,
Longreads,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Netanyahu labels as anti-Semitic anyone who dares to criticize his conduct of the war, yet, many of these critics are Israelis, Jews, who identify as Zionists and condemn the mass killing of a civilian population.—
Ayelet Gundar-Goshen,
Time,
7 July 2025
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The trio opened fire on a pair of rival dealers in August 1996, paralyzing one of them, and four months later, Ennis and his brother stabbed two more dealers who dared cross into Dog Pound territory, court documents show.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Participants who intentionally sought discomfort – from public speaking to confronting unfamiliar ideas – reported greater long-term growth, engagement, and meaning.—
ESMT Berlin,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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In 2020, when the world was confronted with COVID, our teams at Philips moved faster than ever.—
Jeroen Tas,
Time,
10 July 2025
Verb
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But the big challenge for Świątek, resisting a reversion to the baseline aggression when matches get stressful, also gets magnified on grass, where sets can disappear in minutes and errors rack up more easily and quickly.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
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The Supreme Court upheld that ruling and ordered the administration to begin the process of releasing him, but officials resisted bringing him back until he was indicted on the human smuggling charges in May.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
Verb
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The conversation has put a spotlight on a dynamic that’s hard to ignore: how global leaders, especially from Western nations, talk about and to Africa.—
Oumou Fofana,
Essence,
11 July 2025
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Too many times last year the line would just ignore somebody running right at them.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
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This could lead to larger fire growth and small runs that may challenge control features on the Summit Fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 July 2025
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Yet in court, the administration has defended itself by arguing the plaintiffs are challenging a deportation policy that does not exist and cannot point to any statute, rule, regulation or directive codifying it.—
Nate Raymond,
USA Today,
7 July 2025
Verb
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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed group, has faced backlash over reports of violent and even deadly incidents around its secure sites.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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New directives like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive will soon require U.S. companies to identify and address environmental and human rights risks across their supply chains—or face legal liability.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday, is pulled between the US and his allies on the far right who oppose a ceasefire.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
6 July 2025
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The disparate group’s efforts to speak with one voice distinct from that of the West often become mired in opposing views.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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