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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defying
Gulf sovereign wealth funds collectively stepped up dealmaking over the last three months, defying expectations that the Iran war would subdue their investment appetite.
—
Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Applegate is accused of defying her security team’s demands to leave the property before police arrived.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 June 2026
Patrick Dorgu has typically been used further up the pitch by Carrick, and should that persist, another left-back could be added, despite Luke Shaw defying the odds to start all of United’s 38 Premier League games this season.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Experts say young people could be actively defying the warnings about sun exposure — after all, many grew up hearing them from parents, doctors, and in some cases, school programs.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
This phase of their career, Corrin says, is one of experimentation and defying expectations.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 May 2026
But as spring settled in, so did a lightness to the cooking, and the restaurant’s dinner and daytime menus are finding a more personal, label-defying identity.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
That’s after defying box office gravity last weekend, earning an unheard of 39 percent more in its second outing than its first.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2026
Game after game, my investment in Wales grew, defying anything like reason.
—Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Applegate is accused of defying her security team’s demands to leave the property before police arrived.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 June 2026
Patrick Dorgu has typically been used further up the pitch by Carrick, and should that persist, another left-back could be added, despite Luke Shaw defying the odds to start all of United’s 38 Premier League games this season.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Experts say young people could be actively defying the warnings about sun exposure — after all, many grew up hearing them from parents, doctors, and in some cases, school programs.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
This phase of their career, Corrin says, is one of experimentation and defying expectations.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 May 2026
But as spring settled in, so did a lightness to the cooking, and the restaurant’s dinner and daytime menus are finding a more personal, label-defying identity.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
That’s after defying box office gravity last weekend, earning an unheard of 39 percent more in its second outing than its first.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2026
Game after game, my investment in Wales grew, defying anything like reason.
—Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying
Verb
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Jakubowski faces charges of second-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a minor, reckless driving, interfering with an officer, improper use of maker plates, possession of drug paraphernalia, disobeying the signal of an officer and failure to maintain the proper lane.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
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Icarus disobeying his father Daedalus and flying too close to the sun.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Verb
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After the writer/director shared a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s daring chase scene, which was shot on a miniature set of the Bay Area, Guillermo del Toro took to social media to sing Riley’s praises.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
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That in itself feels like a form of rebellion, daring to celebrate the living-and-breathing humanity of those who once felt erased and invisible.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Its airports have remained operational, its economy benefited from a larger citizen population (rather than relying on expatriates), and Tehran has been more cautious in confronting the kingdom directly.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
4 June 2026
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There will be an all-over-the-place nature to this conversation because, after all, that is most reflective of the complications confronting the Royals.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Moore was initially facing charges of breaking or entering, resisting a public officer and assault of a government official or employee, but the latter two charges have since been dismissed.—
Jericka Duncan,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
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She was initially charged with misdemeanor breaking or entering, resisting arrest and assault on a government official.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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That’s how Ciara found out that Amanda was spending so much time at West’s house while ignoring her calls.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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Other Democrats argued that the plan does nothing for renters and noted that Republicans were ignoring high homeowners insurance rates, which are causing financial stress to more people.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Verb
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And Mullin, a 48-year-old former Republican senator from Oklahoma and former mixed martial arts fighter, is also known for fiery exchanges with congressional committees, once challenging a Teamsters leader during a 2023 hearing.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Across the campus, 30 artists have created an array of site-specific permanent works on a scale that would even be challenging for a leading contemporary art institution.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Other challenges to the fund The DOJ is facing a plethora of other legal and political challenges to the fund.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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Worse yet, the region is already facing a water crisis, a dire environmental predicament that could be made far worse by the development.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
4 June 2026
Verb
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If the goal kick is not taken before the end of that countdown, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
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To date, more than 5,500 filmmakers, actors and other Hollywood professionals have signed an open letter opposing the deal.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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