as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
Russia’s wartime economy, once defiant in the face of Western sanctions and geopolitical isolation, is showing signs of fatigue.
—
Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 22 June 2025
In response to the agency’s condemnation, a defiant Iran threatened to ramp up efforts to build nuclear weapons.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 June 2025
Pride celebrations are typically a daylong mix of jubilant street parties and political protest, but this year’s iterations took a more defiant stance as Republicans, led by President Trump, have sought to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Mamdani’s outspoken support for Palestinian causes was a point of tension in the mayor’s race as Cuomo and other opponents sought to label his defiant criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 22 June 2025
In response to the agency’s condemnation, a defiant Iran threatened to ramp up efforts to build nuclear weapons.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 June 2025
Pride celebrations are typically a daylong mix of jubilant street parties and political protest, but this year’s iterations took a more defiant stance as Republicans, led by President Trump, have sought to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Mamdani’s outspoken support for Palestinian causes was a point of tension in the mayor’s race as Cuomo and other opponents sought to label his defiant criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
—Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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The chancellor is caught between febrile bond markets worried about government debt levels across advanced economies and rebellious Labour lawmakers who recently forced the government to pull back on reforms to welfare spending.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
22 July 2025
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Once Audrey Hepburn was seen in a pair of the prototypical capri pants, everyone wanted to own them, and de Lennart’s hero product was later donned by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor: appreciated for its originally rebellious intentions and modern-woman appeal.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Celebrate The Tradition Of Red Dirt Music Stillwater is considered the home of Red Dirt music, a gritty blend of rebel country, bluegrass, rock, and storytelling.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 July 2025
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An Islamic State affiliate killed more than 40 churchgoers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region already beset by government clashes with a separate rebel group.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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Beneath its surface were deep, dark scars—grooves cut through the rock by old lava flows, now overgrown with stubborn green.—
Tess Moormans,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
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The fizzing reaction can help remove stubborn residues.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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