defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

dē-

: full of or showing a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight : full of or showing defiance : bold, impudent

defiant rebels

a defiant refusal

Mantor struck a defiant pose, his chin out, and rocked for a moment on the heels of his boots.

—Christopher Ketcham

Synonyms of defiant

• rebellious
• rebel
• stubborn

Examples of defiant in a Sentence

He's taken a defiant stand on the issue.

the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football

Recent Examples on the Web

The attack on Sais, a Sacramento City Hall employee and liaison to City Councilmember Eric Guerra, colored an otherwise joyous and defiant Rainbow Festival this weekend in the midtown neighborhood. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Swinney has remained defiant that his style will work out in the end. — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Organizers say the parade has become both a defiant assertion of pride and a rare bright spot in a traumatic year. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Striking a defiant tone at a time when the future of the gallery ecosystem remains unknown, David Nolan announced a move for his namesake gallery from New York’s Upper East Side to a bigger space in Tribeca. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

in part borrowed from French défiant "mistrustful," from present participle of défier "to mistrust, challenge, defy entry 1," going back to Old French; in part from defi(ance) + -ant entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defiant

• oppositional defiant disorder

Rhymes for defiant

• client
• giant
• pliant
• scient
• compliant
• reliant
• suppliant
• noncompliant

Kids Definition

defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

: full of or showing defiance : impudent, insolent

defiantly adverb