1
as in to disobey
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
3
as in to confront
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
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4
as in to resist
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 defy
The Legend of Ochi Clearly inspired by kid-centric ’80s adventure films like E.T., The Legend of Ochi tries to reach those heights as a young girl defies her father (Willem Dafoe) and teams up with a baby Ochi (a cutesy primate-looking creature) to return it to its homeland.
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Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
And a clear majority of Americans — including two-thirds of Republicans and 90% of Democrats — said that the Trump administration has to follow the rulings of federal courts, amid questions over whether the White House is defying judges’ orders.
—Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Of his 47 arduous Apostolic Journeys, the one to Iraq in 2021, defying every risk, will remain particularly memorable.
—Abc News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2025
Are those immigrant rights advocates morally justified encouraging and enabling migrants to remain here, defying enforcement of federal laws?
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
And a clear majority of Americans — including two-thirds of Republicans and 90% of Democrats — said that the Trump administration has to follow the rulings of federal courts, amid questions over whether the White House is defying judges’ orders.
—Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Of his 47 arduous Apostolic Journeys, the one to Iraq in 2021, defying every risk, will remain particularly memorable.
—Abc News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2025
Are those immigrant rights advocates morally justified encouraging and enabling migrants to remain here, defying enforcement of federal laws?
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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Resto was arrested on charges of reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer, engaging police in a pursuit, failure to maintain proper lane on a limited access highway and interfering with an officer/resisting.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2025
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The YouGov/The Economist survey also shows that nearly half of Americans think that the Trump administration is disobeying court orders when deporting immigrants.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In an era of performative politics and moral ambiguity, Francis dared to speak clearly—and compassionately—about injustice, war, poverty, and dignity.—
Faisal Kutty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 May 2025
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Their fashion wasn’t asking for permission, rather running to the edge of social convention and daring the rest of the world to keep up.—
Taryn Finley,
Refinery29,
1 May 2025
Verb
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The difference lies in how the screenplay probes the existential struggles warring inside its characters and confronts their pasts.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Along the way, each antihero is forced to confront the most unpleasant corners of their mind, and Russell, as an accomplished former hockey player, was eager to disprove anyone who wrote Thunderbolts* off as just another superhero team-up.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Farthing is being charged with one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor counts of battery and resisting an officer, according to online court records.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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That combination creates a hard, thin, and durable blade that resists rust and holds a tough edge.—
Molly Higgins,
Wired News,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The Murrow perspective allows Clooney and Heslov to ignore the actual Communist contamination of both the media and the government.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
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Yet in a nation where 42 percent of adults live with obesity—a rate that has nearly doubled since the 1980s—the arrival of a drug that actually works was hard to ignore.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Immigrant rights groups challenged the change on behalf of the immigrants and their sponsors.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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Dozens of lawsuits have been filed challenging Trump's executive orders and actions taken by his administration, including the dismantling of federal agencies and the crackdown on international students involved in pro-Palestinian campus protests.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Verb
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The broadcaster has also faced challenges editing Edwards out of popular programmes like Doctor Who, and many live events broadcast by the BBC over the past 20 years.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
4 May 2025
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Consequently, human workers are facing layoffs, replaced by AI.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
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The Motion Picture Association adamantly opposed that idea, and supported the right of other countries to offer film incentives.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
5 May 2025
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The House narrowly approved a spending blueprint that aims to find $1.5 trillion in spending cuts before Trump released his proposal, despite the defections of two Republicans who joined Democrats in opposing the plan.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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