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 company’s new film initiative is focused on championing original voices and bold, genre-defying storytelling.
—
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
But, like Brady and LeBron, Messi at almost 39 is a physical unicorn, defying time, defying logic, defying opponents who assume this freak of nature can’t possibly still be this great.
—Greg Cote
may 18, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
Curry Barker's indie horror thriller, *Obsession*, is defying expectations, becoming a box office and critical success.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Titian painted Saint Lawrence—a third-century church deacon who was slow-roasted for defying Roman authorities—bound to a palette over a sizzling fire, while a man thrusts a long, forked skewer into his torso.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Within three weeks, Marshall was walking and adjusting to his new normal, defying medical predictions.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
In these photographs, Export contorted her body in various ways, creating striking images of her body defying the expected.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 May 2026
Despite that signature turn-in, Republican state officials argued the new map was still in effect, defying decades of precedent.
—Eleanor Nash
may 14, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
London — Keir Starmer has thrown down the gauntlet to his potential rivals, defying calls to quit as Britain’s prime minister and instead challenging his would-be opponents to launch a formal challenge against his leadership of the Labour Party.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
But, like Brady and LeBron, Messi at almost 39 is a physical unicorn, defying time, defying logic, defying opponents who assume this freak of nature can’t possibly still be this great.
—Greg Cote
may 18, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
Curry Barker's indie horror thriller, *Obsession*, is defying expectations, becoming a box office and critical success.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Titian painted Saint Lawrence—a third-century church deacon who was slow-roasted for defying Roman authorities—bound to a palette over a sizzling fire, while a man thrusts a long, forked skewer into his torso.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Within three weeks, Marshall was walking and adjusting to his new normal, defying medical predictions.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
In these photographs, Export contorted her body in various ways, creating striking images of her body defying the expected.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 May 2026
Despite that signature turn-in, Republican state officials argued the new map was still in effect, defying decades of precedent.
—Eleanor Nash
may 14, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
London — Keir Starmer has thrown down the gauntlet to his potential rivals, defying calls to quit as Britain’s prime minister and instead challenging his would-be opponents to launch a formal challenge against his leadership of the Labour Party.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying
Verb
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Saulter was being investigated for allegedly falsifying time sheets, disobeying a direct order and failing to report part-time employment properly.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
-
Authorities last August removed Dodik from the post of the president and temporarily banned him from politics for disobeying Schmidt's decisions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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In Game 2, the Cavaliers sagged off Hart, daring him to shoot 3-point attempts.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
On Thursday, the Cavaliers gave Hart plenty of room, daring him to shoot.—
Tim Casey,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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While still politically uncompromising and laced with cutting wit, All of a Sudden is a remarkably open-hearted work, confronting seemingly intractable systems with a simple belief in people.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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Its second, which first aired in 2014, has Valerie confronting the dysfunction of her former workplaces.—
Caroline Framke,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Saturday when the long-running contract negotiations broke down over the wage and cost-of-living increases that workers are demanding and the MTA has been resisting.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
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Eatherly’s previous arrest came after another incident on Saturday, when he was kicked out of a restaurant in Nashville and later arrested and charged with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to an affidavit.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Even the wokest of the wokes are ignoring poor Megan.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
Our detailed reporting agitated the government, which went from ignoring our existence to breathing down our necks.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), there is no residency requirement to file a lawsuit challenging a project’s environmental review.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Lander, who’s got the backing of Mayor Mamdani, is challenging Goldman from the left.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Brown is still building up his pitch count with his transition from the bullpen to the rotation, requiring high efficiency facing Major League Baseball’s best offense to give them that many outs.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
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Kubiak has experience going against the group in practices last season, but facing his former boss in Mike MacDonald will be a tall task.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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As a maker, these opposing qualities are persistent and present throughout every part of the process.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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The Broncos literally presented the NFL’s toughest assignment for opposing quarterbacks.—
Sam McDowell
Updated May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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