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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defy
Industry titans are embracing a new generation of technologies that promise lifted features and age-defying results with modest to no downtime.
—
Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Lima defies culinary expectations at every turn.
—Marisol Mosquera, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
Labels matter Security analysts say the situation in Haiti continues to defy clear international legal characterization and the choice of labels – crisis, armed conflict, gangs, terrorist groups, armed groups, criminal groups, insurgents – carries significant legal and humanitarian implications.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Research shows many workers are quietly defying the orders.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Lima defies culinary expectations at every turn.
—Marisol Mosquera, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
Labels matter Security analysts say the situation in Haiti continues to defy clear international legal characterization and the choice of labels – crisis, armed conflict, gangs, terrorist groups, armed groups, criminal groups, insurgents – carries significant legal and humanitarian implications.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Research shows many workers are quietly defying the orders.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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The next day, Alex begs Mia to put her on TMS to talk about the deep fake, but Mia won’t, because that would be directly disobeying Stella and Celine’s order for Alex to keep quiet.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
24 Sep. 2025
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Hamas has called on residents of Gaza City to disobey the evacuation order.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What’s clear is that the power of that institution is now in the hands of hacks who clock in every single morning determined solely to purge this country of any citizen who ever dared to challenge or dislike this president.—
Billy Ray,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
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From Andalusia to Istanbul, her journey becomes a daring rescue mission across land and sea, exploring exile, faith and identity.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Being social with family or housemates may feel off when the Sagittarius moon confronts Venus.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Mary Castlebury, who was a principal under Pendleton, said her superintendent helped her confront challenges as a fellow Black administrator.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Criminal court records reviewed by PEOPLE show the 35-year-old faces charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and a false report.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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But previous presidents have resisted the temptation to exploit them, and the law has served as a powerful norm notwithstanding its weaknesses.—
Elizabeth Goitein,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Since then, Moscow has expanded its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, while seemingly ignoring his overtures for further dialogue to end the conflict.—
Matthew Bodner,
NBC news,
25 Sep. 2025
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Certainly the idea that having a bunch of wealth will prevent you from getting into heaven has been conveniently ignored by many adherents.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 2022 move to its current home, near South Coast Plaza, was widely viewed as a chance to raise the museum’s reputation and solidify its role as a place to be entertained and challenged by art.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
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The approval secured at a special meeting of shareholders held by Fubo on Tuesday still requires regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions for a deal that aims to create a much bigger player in the virtual multichannel video provider to challenge market leader YouTube TV.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israel is facing significant diplomatic pressure abroad, with multiple Western nations recognizing Palestinian statehood -- while also demanding that Hamas can not be part of any future government -- as world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
29 Sep. 2025
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The Carolina Panthers will face the New England Patriots in Week 4 of the NFL season on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The combination of DePrimeo and Rotondi simply overpowered Masco (3-1), and that duo is bound to cause nightmares for opposing lines all season.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
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However, the more subtle aspects of Goodman’s all-around game — pitch calling, receiving, and knowledge of opposing hitters — have been impressive.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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