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
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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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defying
The few who have flirted with defying the president have quickly seen their reelection fortunes falter.
—
Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
For the first time in years, Biles isn’t chasing a new gravity-defying skill or training for the next big competition.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Nov. 2025
Sure, Johnson’s physics-defying mid-air adjustment shows up in college football highlight supercuts, but the networks that run the sport today rarely dig up the footage from the late, great Jefferson Pilot Sports to educate the next generation.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
This administration is defying court orders at rates unimaginable in any other presidency.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
This show is somehow defying the laws of physics.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Stocks have been remarkably adaptable, defying concerns about a resurgence in global trade tensions and bouts of intense volatility.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
But then as now, people cherished the underdog aspect of the album — the artist taking a stand, defying the odds, staying hungry.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
The storyline follows soldiers Heikki and Pauli who take their first steps toward adulthood in the unforgiving expanse of the Arctic Circle, and interpreter Saara Vainio who leaves her husband for German officer Duisberg, defying both convention and country.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
For the first time in years, Biles isn’t chasing a new gravity-defying skill or training for the next big competition.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Nov. 2025
Sure, Johnson’s physics-defying mid-air adjustment shows up in college football highlight supercuts, but the networks that run the sport today rarely dig up the footage from the late, great Jefferson Pilot Sports to educate the next generation.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
This administration is defying court orders at rates unimaginable in any other presidency.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
This show is somehow defying the laws of physics.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Stocks have been remarkably adaptable, defying concerns about a resurgence in global trade tensions and bouts of intense volatility.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
But then as now, people cherished the underdog aspect of the album — the artist taking a stand, defying the odds, staying hungry.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
The storyline follows soldiers Heikki and Pauli who take their first steps toward adulthood in the unforgiving expanse of the Arctic Circle, and interpreter Saara Vainio who leaves her husband for German officer Duisberg, defying both convention and country.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying
Verb
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Illinois State Police cited him on suspicion of disobeying a police officer – a petty offense punishable by a fine – Cook County court records show, and is scheduled to appear in court November 25.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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In Missouri, disobeying traffic lights is considered a moving violation.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ingmar Bergman’s early-fifties soap commercials put daring methods—metafiction, animation, and even a 3-D parody—to comedic ends.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
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This gallows had been raised to last—built not only by children but for them, since few adults would have the agility and daring to reach the top.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In a longer video the user shared to YouTube, a group of people can be seen confronting the guest at the bottom of the lift hill's stairs.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
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The deputy was seen on video struggling through makeshift barricades of mattresses and furniture before confronting Camacho, who was holding the boy in a chokehold with one hand while brandishing a knife in the other.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Martinez and Ruiz were present in court Wednesday and both have entered not guilty pleas to a federal charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Dunn is charged with assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating and interfering with a federal officer.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Wrapped in a blanked on the sofa, binging reruns of The Oprah Show on YouTube and gleefully ignoring emails all morning is my idea of heaven.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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On July 4, after Zane confessed to feeling guilty about ignoring more texts from his family members, the chatbot offered to help Zane craft a terse message to them.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He was well known for donning a bulletproof vest and for verbally challenging organized crime deeply routed in the state.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Making matters murkier, Panama’s own government officials filed a lawsuit challenging Hutchison’s recent contract extension to operate the ports.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pakko acknowledged the challenges row-crop farmers are facing and how that contributed to his predictions for the overall Arkansas economy.—
Sydney Sasser,
Arkansas Online,
7 Nov. 2025
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Bank of America’s virtual financial assistant, Erica, is at the forefront of the bank’s client-facing technology.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Wylde points out that some business leaders had other reasons for opposing him.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
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Five vehicles were driven past the ground prior to kick-off, carrying electronic billboards showing messages opposing antisemitism.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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