1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposition
the inclination to resist
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a deeply troubled person who seemed the very soul of defiance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiance
But Panahi, inspired by his own daughter’s similar act of defiance, never loses sight of the policy’s unjustness, either, and the extremes required for something that in every other part of the world is naturally taken for granted.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
LaPorte and fellow activist Santcha Etienne expressed defiance regarding the ruling.
—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
The surname is specifically an act of rebellion and defiance to Christianity.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Go beyond the headlines, the fiery scandals, explosive creative clashes, and heartbreaking tragedies to experience the powerful story of unbreakable sisterhood, defiance, triumph, and enduring love.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
LaPorte and fellow activist Santcha Etienne expressed defiance regarding the ruling.
—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
The surname is specifically an act of rebellion and defiance to Christianity.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Go beyond the headlines, the fiery scandals, explosive creative clashes, and heartbreaking tragedies to experience the powerful story of unbreakable sisterhood, defiance, triumph, and enduring love.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
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Amid a rebellion over the SAVE Act, Johnson lost control of the House floor for a second time this week, sending lawmakers home early for the July Fourth recess.
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These battles have completely receded from the American imagination, even though, in some ways, the American rebellion was a sideshow to a far greater imperial drama.
Noun
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In the video last week, Paisley criticized the data center project not just because of the potential effects on the zoo but also because of his opposition to AI.
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Maxim Katz, a Russian opposition figure and former Moscow municipal deputy, told Fox News Digital that the fuel shortages are real and increasingly difficult for Russians to ignore.
Noun
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Ukraine has every right to attack Russia’s military infrastructure that sustains its aggression.
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Issues could include insomnia, aggression, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to psychotropic medication and exacerbation of existing mental illness -- like anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Noun
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Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.
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Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.
Noun
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Superconductors can carry electricity with zero resistance, but only at extremely low temperatures.
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What looked like resistance was often a different institutional instinct at work.
Noun
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Dillon Thieneman’s speed Since draft night in April, Thieneman has been lauded for his combination of speed, instincts and aggressiveness.
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This is a lineup structured to thrive with a small-ball approach — high batting average, chaos and aggressiveness on the basepaths, and manufacturing runs.
Noun
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Marji’s rebelliousness, both admirable and terrifying for those who love her, is her salient characteristic.
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The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.
Noun
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For individuals 18 and older, courts generally must approve a qualifying name change within six weeks without holding a hearing or allowing formal objections.
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Much of the objection to using the term comes from Israel's ongoing attacks in Lebanon and Gaza despite ceasefires.
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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