defied; defying
1
: to confront with assured power of resistance : disregard
defy public opinion
in trouble for defying a court order
2
: to resist attempts at : withstand
the paintings defy classification
a decision that defies all logic
3
: to challenge to do something considered impossible : dare
defied us to name a better movie
4
archaic
: to challenge to combat
plural defies
Examples of defy in a Sentence
Verb
She defied her parents and dropped out of school.
The group has continued to defy all efforts to stop them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Juli McDonald, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The company’s new film initiative is focused on championing original voices and bold, genre-defying storytelling.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
But, like Brady and LeBron, Messi at almost 39 is a physical unicorn, defying time, defying logic, defying opponents who assume this freak of nature can’t possibly still be this great.
—Greg Cote
may 18, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The film is already defying expectations at the domestic box office and is projected by Deadline to earn $14 million from 2,615 theaters in its opening weekend, while early estimates pegged it at $8 million to $9 million.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for defy
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Verb
Now approaching his 27th birthday, he's defied the odds.
—Juli McDonald, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The company’s new film initiative is focused on championing original voices and bold, genre-defying storytelling.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
But, like Brady and LeBron, Messi at almost 39 is a physical unicorn, defying time, defying logic, defying opponents who assume this freak of nature can’t possibly still be this great.
—Greg Cote
may 18, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The film is already defying expectations at the domestic box office and is projected by Deadline to earn $14 million from 2,615 theaters in its opening weekend, while early estimates pegged it at $8 million to $9 million.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for defy
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defy. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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