1
as in disobeying
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in daring
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 & Similar Words
3
as in confronting
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 resisting
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defying
Jay Manuel and Pamela Chavez-Manuel have spent years defying expectations, and their latest chapter is no exception.
—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Machado left Venezuela in December to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, defying a decade-long travel ban imposed under Maduro’s government.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
Notably, London's financial sector, particularly insurance, has thrived post-Brexit, defying predictions of decline.
—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Of course, not everyone wakes up with naturally full, gravity-defying hair.
—
Emily Kelleher,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
During Glick’s tour, NBC News witnessed a Jewish group openly defying the rules by praying and prostrating on the edge of the compound under the protection of police.
—
Gabe Joselow,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
The company’s new film initiative is focused on championing original voices and bold, genre-defying storytelling.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
But this market keeps defying expectations.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Players are increasingly defying age by playing well deep into their 30s, and the Mavs are gambling that Irving will fall into the LeBron category.
—
Mac Engel
june 23,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Machado left Venezuela in December to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, defying a decade-long travel ban imposed under Maduro’s government.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
Notably, London's financial sector, particularly insurance, has thrived post-Brexit, defying predictions of decline.
—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Of course, not everyone wakes up with naturally full, gravity-defying hair.
—
Emily Kelleher,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
During Glick’s tour, NBC News witnessed a Jewish group openly defying the rules by praying and prostrating on the edge of the compound under the protection of police.
—
Gabe Joselow,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
The company’s new film initiative is focused on championing original voices and bold, genre-defying storytelling.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
But this market keeps defying expectations.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Players are increasingly defying age by playing well deep into their 30s, and the Mavs are gambling that Irving will fall into the LeBron category.
—
Mac Engel
june 23,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying
Verb
-
Santana-Mateo was booked on charges of breach of peace, engaging police in a pursuit, disobeying the direction of officer, reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to drive right, failure to obey a traffic control signal and driving the wrong way on a one way.
-
Icarus disobeying his father Daedalus and flying too close to the sun.
Verb
-
The year-old eastern imperial eagle from Serbia, started flying in August and later set off on his first migratory flight toward the Middle East, only to be captured by poachers, sold illegally and retrieved in a daring cross-border mission.
-
This fast-paced, 60-minute performance puts a fresh spin on the classic one-ring circus, blending daring feats with playful mischief and Circus Bella’s signature sparkle with the Circus Bella All-Star Band’s live music.
Verb
-
Business leaders, policymakers, researchers, and educators are confronting questions as consequential as those faced 250 years ago.
-
Authorities plan to shut down streets, airspace and daily life in Tehran as mourners commemorate the life of Khamenei, who led Iran for decades with an iron fist while confronting the West.
Verb
-
He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of resisting an officer.
-
Preserving slave ownership, along with resisting political overreach from Mexico City, were principal reasons that the Mexican state of Texas fought to break free of Mexico.
Verb
-
Make Participation Effortless Reduce friction to the point where using it feels like less effort than ignoring it.
-
For example, today, Americans might believe that the demands of racial equity or of evangelical Christianity are so pressing that executive power would be justified in ignoring the legislature or the judiciary to serve them.
Verb
-
Are the needs of another challenging your emotional state?
-
Amid a challenging macroeconomic climate, American design furniture conglomerate MillerKnoll swung to a positive net earnings position in its fiscal fourth quarter.
Verb
-
While portals offer a vital communication channel for patients facing long appointment wait times, the cognitive load on physicians is immense.
-
The Education Department’s civil rights office had long been the last resort for parents who believe their child is facing discrimination at school, with a mandate to review all complaints.
Verb
-
The other opposing vote came from Supervisor Brian Pacheco, who declined to comment.
-
Rutinel touted his Dominican background and accused Bird of not being tough enough in opposing ICE.
Cite this Entry
“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
