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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defying
It's got a lot going for it, both in style and substance, and 103 minutes of genre-defying thrills that refuse to pigeonhole itself, both through style and content, is not to be sniffed at for a feature debut.
—
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Luckily, Menzel, who played Elphaba in the original 2003 Broadway production of Wicked, was already familiar with executing gravity-defying feats onstage.
—Luna Adler, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
However, working with a mostly all South Asian cast was instrumental in defying stereotypes while also showcasing the ways the society is progressing forward.
—Pooja Shah, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Clues And Answers For Saturday, March 8 These women are part of the story of how defying the odds and using their talents exemplified their brilliance and made our society better at the same time.
—Zaneilia Harris, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
The rapper and singer—who’s always been one to experiment with avant-garde beauty—brought high drama to the evening with a gravity-defying hairstyle that curved and twisted like a modern masterpiece.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
Thankfully, Buck risks his life to rescue the little guy, once again defying Bobby’s order to get out of there as the ceiling collapses and finally emerges with the dog in his arms.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
Vance publicly suggested defying a court order, and Musk is increasingly calling for the judges who block the administration to be impeached.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025
Film-forming polymers contribute to a gravity-defying curl, while peptides and acacia senegal gum extract work to moisturize lashes and deliver a less gritty application.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Luckily, Menzel, who played Elphaba in the original 2003 Broadway production of Wicked, was already familiar with executing gravity-defying feats onstage.
—Luna Adler, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
However, working with a mostly all South Asian cast was instrumental in defying stereotypes while also showcasing the ways the society is progressing forward.
—Pooja Shah, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Clues And Answers For Saturday, March 8 These women are part of the story of how defying the odds and using their talents exemplified their brilliance and made our society better at the same time.
—Zaneilia Harris, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
The rapper and singer—who’s always been one to experiment with avant-garde beauty—brought high drama to the evening with a gravity-defying hairstyle that curved and twisted like a modern masterpiece.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
Thankfully, Buck risks his life to rescue the little guy, once again defying Bobby’s order to get out of there as the ceiling collapses and finally emerges with the dog in his arms.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
Vance publicly suggested defying a court order, and Musk is increasingly calling for the judges who block the administration to be impeached.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025
Film-forming polymers contribute to a gravity-defying curl, while peptides and acacia senegal gum extract work to moisturize lashes and deliver a less gritty application.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying
Verb
-
The witness said Metcalf touched Anthony, who allegedly responded by daring Metcalf to punch him.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Living your bucket list A recent study showed nine out of 10 participants have made a bucket list, many of which include daring feats, like skydiving.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The world’s multilateral architecture is the best mechanism humanity has for confronting existential transnational threats.—
Allison Carnegie,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Any return to play in England would entail Henderson confronting the subject again.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
He was arrested again in 2016, during his four-year probation term, for shoplifting from a local Walmart and resisting security and was sent back to prison.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
-
The result of a complex physical and chemical treatment process, the finish gets its name for its ceramic-like feel and matte finish while resisting scratches and scuffs.—
Brian Westover,
PCMAG,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
FedEx — The stock gained more than 1% after Jefferies upgraded FedEx to buy from hold, saying investors are ignoring the cost-cutting efforts at the packing and shipping company that will continue to drive earnings growth regardless of the macroeconomic challenges.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Yet there’s no ignoring the fact that the Rockies would’ve loved to have Brito penciled in as their second baseman this year.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, which went on an historic two-and-a-half week strike in March after negotiations for a new contract broke down, had filed a petition with the Sixth District Court of Appeal on April 1, challenging the ruling of the Santa Clara County Superior Court.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Today big tech is aggressively challenging long-standing legal protections in copyright law, in intellectual property, fair data practices and data privacy protections.—
Hessie Jones,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Many of the mobile clinics work in silos and Medi-Cal resources can be restrictive, with clients facing difficulties meeting criteria.—
Emma Hall,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Her team, down seven and facing its largest deficit of the night, went from smiling and finding easy buckets to straight-faced and struggling to find a rhythm.—
Taylor Lyons,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
These kinds of stuck weather patterns that have intense interaction of opposing forces right next to each other are becoming more common in a changing climate.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Hochman's office also filed a motion opposing the petition.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share