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
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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
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4
as in resisting
to refuse to give in to
a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defying
Bolsonaro, already under house arrest for defying court restrictions, has denied any wrongdoing.
—
Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Google lost the case last year, but the judge decided that the search giant can keep its Chrome browser, defying the government's request.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
The move drew immediate backlash, with Trump vowing to meet with possible primary challengers, a sequence of events underscoring the risks of defying him.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
Hundreds of students marched through major Indonesian cities on Monday, defying warnings of a crackdown after a weekend of deadly unrest left eight people dead in the country's worst violence in more than two decades.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Gaga went to the future for the 2010 Grammys, wearing a sculptural lavender Armani Privé gown with gravity-defying glittery shoes.
—EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Dan Gingiss Labubus are seemingly everywhere these days, defying the odds in a challenging economy.
—Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Faithfull spent more than six decades defying expectations and releasing more than 35 albums throughout her career all while consistently reinventing herself.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
New research suggests some people are defying their bosses’ marching orders even as the job market cools and job anxieties mount.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Google lost the case last year, but the judge decided that the search giant can keep its Chrome browser, defying the government's request.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2025
The move drew immediate backlash, with Trump vowing to meet with possible primary challengers, a sequence of events underscoring the risks of defying him.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
Hundreds of students marched through major Indonesian cities on Monday, defying warnings of a crackdown after a weekend of deadly unrest left eight people dead in the country's worst violence in more than two decades.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Gaga went to the future for the 2010 Grammys, wearing a sculptural lavender Armani Privé gown with gravity-defying glittery shoes.
—EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Dan Gingiss Labubus are seemingly everywhere these days, defying the odds in a challenging economy.
—Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Faithfull spent more than six decades defying expectations and releasing more than 35 albums throughout her career all while consistently reinventing herself.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
New research suggests some people are defying their bosses’ marching orders even as the job market cools and job anxieties mount.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying
Verb
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Fischer faces charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, disobeying traffic control signals, failure to drive in the proper lane, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to display plates and engaging police in a pursuit.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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From sleight-of-hand tricks to daring stunts, the afternoon is designed to keep the laughs and gasps coming.—
Tiffani Jackson Skinner,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
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Enthralling both fellow captives and the Bey of Algiers, Cervantes, his spirit unbroken, also imagines a daring escape plan.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Any nation confronting Beijing will not face a handful of boutique drones or a symbolic squadron of stealth fighters.—
Amir Husain,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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But confronting those norms is crucial – not only for women’s benefit, but also men’s.—
Colleen Tolan,
The Conversation,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nash was arrested and booked into the Gila County Jail on charges of murder, endangerment and resisting arrest, police said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday resisting any potential federal deployment.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the Supreme Court increasingly shows frustration with the overreach of lower court judges, the justices could be motivated to take up cases more quickly on matters where lower courts are ignoring their emergency docket orders, such as with the firing of independent agency heads.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
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As his profile began to grow on Grand Cayman, Santor became known for securing the best tables at restaurants and riding a scooter through island traffic, blithely ignoring suggestions to put on a helmet.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At just 265 meters long but climbing a steep 17 percent gradient, the Glória Funicular saves passengers a challenging uphill walk in only about three minutes.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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The map has been signed into law by Abbott ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, but is also the subject of lawsuits challenging the new bounderies.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite facing challenges to get the march off the ground this year, supporters came bearing flags, signs and spirit on the eve of the Boise Pride Festival, which takes place this weekend.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
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His second came on a 24-yard run with the Trojans facing a fourth-and-1.—
Cody Thorn,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Their success was even more impressive considering the lack of a complementary wide receiver to prevent opposing secondaries from doubling Lamb.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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Lewis’ legislation also includes several additional changes to the initiative petition process, such as a ban on foreign adversaries from contributing to or opposing ballot measures.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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