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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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of defy
Chair Jerome Powell has warned that worsening inflation could keep the Fed on the sidelines — a stance that has enraged Trump, who has defied traditional norms of central bank independence and demanded lower borrowing costs.
—
Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Advocates, lawmakers and many residents have pushed back on that characterization, which defies crime data.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Elements defy mode that vibrates the car to shed dust and dirt.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Gone are the days of the generals willing to defy him.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Advocates, lawmakers and many residents have pushed back on that characterization, which defies crime data.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Elements defy mode that vibrates the car to shed dust and dirt.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Gone are the days of the generals willing to defy him.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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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
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That is not one, but two Cleons on the run, while the one remaining Cleon is already disobeying Demerzel and is way too close to the Foundation Ambassador (and there’s the whole thing of him being put down in a few days).—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Her appearances were daring and included a show of skin along with performances that captivated all sorts of audiences for years, even as World War II threatened.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
10 Aug. 2025
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There has, after all, been a lot of talk about whether Prince William would dare to do something that King Charles has so far been reluctant to do: taking away Prince Andrew and Prince Harry’s titles.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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No one wants to return home from a long, busy day and be confronted with a cluttered entryway.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
15 Aug. 2025
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But Oregon leaders have been far less aggressive in confronting the historical artifacts that critics say hold green energy back.—
Tony Schick,
ProPublica,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The cloud, resisted a decade ago by fashion executives concerned about ensuring IP secrecy, is now essential.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
7 Aug. 2025
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Don't scratch: A healing tattoo may be itchy, but resist the urge to scratch.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Or Joe Biden when Putin ignored his warnings and invaded Ukraine in 2022.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
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This isn’t about weakening rights or ignoring the role of guns.—
For the Carroll County Times,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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At least two lawsuits have been filed challenging this law.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Aug. 2025
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Then there’s their talented position groups — specifically at wide receiver, tight end and defensive end — that can certainly challenge Miami offensively and defensively.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the merger faced regulatory approval and Paramount engaged in settlement talks with Trump, staffers in the news division were in a perpetual state of consternation, while Democratic lawmakers raised the prospect that of a violation of anti-bribery laws.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
7 Aug. 2025
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The Trump administration has faced weeks of furor from some segments of the president’s political base, which have demanded public disclosure of files related to Epstein.—
Jake Offenhartz,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump does not oppose the plan and has decided not to intervene in the conflict, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
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Many activists in Oak Park have consistently opposed the cameras and called for their removal.—
Bob Skolnik,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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