defiantly
adverb
de·fi·ant·ly
di-ˈfī-ənt-lē 
dē-
: in a defiant manner : in a way that is full of or shows a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight
She spoke out defiantly against the proposed law.
As his empire crumbled amid the … scandal, he defiantly refused a graceful exit.—
Jonathan Alter
Jonathan AlterThough restrained, the women do not lack independence, and they wag their tongues as defiantly as ever.—Jason Farago
Jason FaragoExamples of defiantly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nike’s Super Bowl 2025 comeback advert titled So Win (its first since 1998, notably centring women) which defiantly urges a host of top women athletes to do/be everything they’re told they can’t, is a key case in point.
—Katie Baron, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Trump defiantly hosted El Salvador's president in the White House this week just as criticism is surging about sending deportees to the Central American country.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
That is dandyism, too, defiantly stuntin’ as a habit.
—Jeremy O. Harris, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
For many years, Augusta National was accused of defiantly dragging its heels on progressive issues, but a change of direction within the last 15 years means that the club is now an influential leader in one of the world’s most traditional sports.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiantly
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.
Katie Baron, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Trump defiantly hosted El Salvador's president in the White House this week just as criticism is surging about sending deportees to the Central American country.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
That is dandyism, too, defiantly stuntin’ as a habit.
—Jeremy O. Harris, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2025
For many years, Augusta National was accused of defiantly dragging its heels on progressive issues, but a change of direction within the last 15 years means that the club is now an influential leader in one of the world’s most traditional sports.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiantly
Cite this Entry
“Defiantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiantly. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share