Synonyms of defying

defying

verb

present participle of defy

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

• disobeying
• ignoring
• violating
• mocking
• resisting
• dismissing
• rejecting
• opposing
• disregarding
• fighting
• rebelling (against)
• flouting
• overlooking
• breaching
• scorning
• withstanding
• transgressing
• breaking
• combating
• passing over
• contesting
• bucking
• revolting (against)
• disputing
• disobliging
• brushing (off)
• pooh-poohing
• tuning out
• infringing
• shrugging off
• scoffing (at)
• winking (at)
• overpassing
• mutinying (against)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• following
• obeying
• complying (with)
• conforming (to)
• serving
• submitting (to)
• yielding (to)
• minding
• surrendering (to)
• deferring (to)
• stooping (to)
• conceding (to)
• cooperating (with)
• keeping
• observing
• capitulating (to)
• obliging
• agreeing (to)
• regarding
• heeding
• hearing
• attending
• goose-stepping (to)
• watching
• marking
• noticing
• noting
• listening (to)
• acceding (to)
• assenting (to)
• acquiescing (to)

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

• daring
• challenging
• confronting
• stumping
• braving
• breasting
• facing
• brazening
• bearding
• outbraving
• outfacing

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

• confronting
• facing
• braving
• withstanding
• daring
• resisting
• breasting
• encountering
• standing up to
• brazening
• fighting
• outbraving
• bearding
• meeting
• outfacing
• affronting
• challenging
• approaching
• fronting
• standing
• opposing
• facing up (to)
• battling
• combating
• accosting
• repelling
• cornering
• contending (with)
• squaring (off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• sidestepping
• dodging
• shirking
• ducking
• eschewing
• shunning
• evading
• shaking
• escaping
• eluding
• funking

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

• resisting
• opposing
• withstanding
• fighting
• bucking
• repelling
• combating
• thwarting
• contradicting
• contesting
• challenging
• battling
• countering
• hindering
• contending (with)
• stemming
• obstructing
• disputing
• balking
• frustrating
• checking
• baffling
• foiling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submitting (to)
• yielding (to)
• bowing (to)
• succumbing (to)
• surrendering (to)
• stooping (to)
• giving in (to)
• capitulating (to)
• knuckling under (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defying

The economy grew over three months ending in June, defying fear of a downturn triggered by the Iran war. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026

Five years later, 28 All Blacks returned to South Africa as the unofficial Cavaliers, defying an international boycott which helped sustain apartheid’s sporting legitimacy. — Daniel Gallan, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

The spa brochure ranges from seashell massages (which, yes, involve giant seashells covered in coconut oil) to traditional Thai rubdowns and every kind of herbal body wrap, detox-scrub and age-defying facial in between. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

The students and their teachers are defying Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, who, after taking back control of the country, banned formal education for all girls beyond the sixth grade. — Imtiaz Tyab, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

India's quarterly economic growth has exceeded expectations several times over the past year, defying a bleak global trade environment, high energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

The 39-year-old was busy defying the odds and seemed the only man capable of laying a glove on the new generation of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026

The two-hour live talent show features stunts including performances by the high-speed bicycle troupe and acrobats from high-flying trapeze acts to gravity-defying acrobatics to Latin dance blending salsa-style movement with acrobatics. — Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

The canal system that carries it from western Arizona is a gravity-defying product of 1960s optimism and more than $4 billion in building costs. — Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026