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defy

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of defy

1 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 of defy

disobey, mock, rebel (against)
Words Related to defy

disoblige

mutiny (against), revolt (against)

disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out

brush off, dismiss, flout, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject, scoff (at), scorn, shrug off, wink (at)

breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate

buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand
Near Antonyms of defy

capitulate (to), concede (to), defer (to), goose-step (to), serve, stoop (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

cooperate (with)

keep, observe

accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), oblige

attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch
Antonyms of defy

comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey
2 to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat
  • after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better
Synonyms of defy

challenge, dare, stump
Words Related to defy

beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, face, outbrave, outface
3 to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
  • a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
Synonyms of defy

beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, face, outbrave, outface
Words Related to defy

face up (to), front

affront

challenge

encounter, meet

accost, approach, corner

repel, resist, stand, withstand

battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)
Phrases Synonymous with defy

stand up to
Near Antonyms of defy

avoid, eschew, shun

elude, escape, evade, shake
Antonyms of defy

dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep
4 to refuse to give in to
  • a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
Synonyms of defy

buck, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand
Words Related to defy

battle, combat, contend (with)

challenge, contest, contradict, dispute

baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart

check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stem
Antonyms of defy

bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

Learn More about defy

  1. See words that rhyme with defy Dictionary: Definition of defy Spanish Central: Translation of defy Nglish: Translation of defy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defy for Arabic speakers

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