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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defying
Besides defying the subpoena, neither Bill Clinton nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing and denies having any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.
—
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
The film tells the true and twisted tale of a deceiver of land and folk, who, defying her birth as a woman, comported herself as a man and committed many a wicked deed.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
The simple, if slightly sad, reality is that these intrepid explorers embark on a one-way trip upon leaving atop their gravity-defying rockets.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2026
From the original Piña Colada created at the Caribe Hilton, to the Daiquiri, Mojito, Painkiller and Mudslide, some of the world’s most important and trend-defying drinks got their start in the islands of the Caribbean.
—Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
But luckily for me (and you), the retailer is defying the odds.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
In Friday’s case, the Seoul court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him and fabricating the martial law proclamation.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Essential to ’60s mod bobs and ’80s gravity-defying crops à la Dynasty, the hairsprays of decades past were crunchy, locking hair into place with stiffness.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026
But there are people who are defying that comfort.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
The film tells the true and twisted tale of a deceiver of land and folk, who, defying her birth as a woman, comported herself as a man and committed many a wicked deed.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026
The simple, if slightly sad, reality is that these intrepid explorers embark on a one-way trip upon leaving atop their gravity-defying rockets.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2026
From the original Piña Colada created at the Caribe Hilton, to the Daiquiri, Mojito, Painkiller and Mudslide, some of the world’s most important and trend-defying drinks got their start in the islands of the Caribbean.
—Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
But luckily for me (and you), the retailer is defying the odds.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
In Friday’s case, the Seoul court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him and fabricating the martial law proclamation.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Essential to ’60s mod bobs and ’80s gravity-defying crops à la Dynasty, the hairsprays of decades past were crunchy, locking hair into place with stiffness.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026
But there are people who are defying that comfort.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying
Verb
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The fact that on this occasion senior officers chose a very light touch, preserving still-new representative institutions while not directly disobeying a direct presidential order, is extraordinary – and deserves far more comment and commendation than has been received.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
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The mayor and governor of Minnesota need to be investigated for causing chaos in the streets, disobeying federal laws and causing riots at the expense of a deceased person.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The trailer promises traditional silly antics, like Gonzo’s daring stunts and Beaker’s dysfunctional science experiments, and musical performances.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
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Sure, the Enterprise-D’s daring mission to rescue Jean-Luc Picard from the Borg, and Michael Burnham leading Discovery to the 32nd century are the kind of Alpha Quadrant-changing events that grab headlines, but even 60-year-old multimedia franchises need to take it easy from time to time.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kelly, during the demonstration, filmed himself directly confronting lead pastor Jonathan Parnell and shouting in the faces of parishioners, even following them to their cars with crying children in tow.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Jan. 2026
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Board Chair Sarah Leonardi said the district is confronting significant financial realities as members considered school closures, boundary adjustments, and a proposal to move some high school graduations from large venues to on‑campus gymnasiums.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the department, Sutton currently faces three counts of resisting an officer, two counts of public intimidation, two counts of battery of a police officer, one count of disturbing the peace and one count of criminal trespassing.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That 50-day may as well not even be there; buyers and sellers are ignoring it.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
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Two people were arrested in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting federal officers and ignoring officers' orders to stay out of traffic, ICE said on Sunday.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And then to not be able to get folks in is challenging.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
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These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For instance, radiologists can spend less time on documentation and more time on patient-facing decisions, while therapists can reduce administrative overhead and devote more attention to clients.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Pittman, who is currently in jail, is now facing six additional charges, according to police.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His innovative play-calling and offensive schemes emphasizing speed put opposing defenses on their heels.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
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The president has intensified his rhetoric on Greenland, threatening to impose new tariffs on countries opposing the sale of the Danish territory to the United States.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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