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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defy
Escher's Relativity artwork features a room with staircases criss-crossing in a labyrinth-like way, with figures walking on them defying the laws of gravity.
—
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
In 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, both outsiders on a British Expedition, defied insurmountable odds to achieve what was once thought impossible, reaching the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Of course, even the U.S. Constitution can be undermined if a president defies the Supreme Court.
—Daniel Treisman, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
With the state suffering a $12 billion deficit and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco strongly calling for termination, the other Democratic candidates also need to defy the unions still pushing the project and come out sharply against it.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
In 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, both outsiders on a British Expedition, defied insurmountable odds to achieve what was once thought impossible, reaching the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Of course, even the U.S. Constitution can be undermined if a president defies the Supreme Court.
—Daniel Treisman, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
With the state suffering a $12 billion deficit and Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco strongly calling for termination, the other Democratic candidates also need to defy the unions still pushing the project and come out sharply against it.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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He's been charged with reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to maintain lane, passing on the right, improper turn, passing at an unsafe distance, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment in the first degree.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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He was arrested on multiple charges, including reckless driving and disobeying an officer.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2025
Verb
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He’s used the executive branch to punish law firms and universities who’ve dared to go against him ideologically.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2025
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Under the Sagittarius full moon, daring to put your faith in others expands your world!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Drawing from figures like James Baldwin and Richard Pryor, the artist confronts the failures of representation through works that are at once minimalist and deeply charged.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
4 June 2025
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While college should be a time of parties, spring break trips, challenging classes, and new relationships, today's young adults are increasingly confronted with something far more sobering: the death of their peers.—
Charell G. Coleman,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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This is especially true for decentralized finance (DeFi), which, by its nature, resists traditional regulatory models.—
Irina Heaver,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Serkis, of course, can’t resist playing a couple of parts himself and takes on the affable Rooster and Farmer Jones.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Verb
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What can also be said with certainty, however, is that — even ignoring, for one moment, the events that brought him to Chelmsford crown court in Essex, east of London — this is a story of what might have been.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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Public health is too important to rely on speculation and too important to ignore when the data speaks for itself.—
Olga Bolden-Tiller,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2025
Verb
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These women’s stories challenge a culture that too often equates strength with silence.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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His lawyers, meanwhile, challenged the legality of Khalil’s detention and contend he was targeted for his pro-Palestinian views in violation of his constitutional rights.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Instead, as Apple heads into this year’s showcase, the company faces nagging questions about whether the nearly 50-year-old company has lost some of the mystique and innovative drive that turned it into a tech trendsetter.—
Michael Liedtke,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Palestinian medical residents faced extra obstacles when competing for positions in such fields as obstetrics and gynecology, which was Qasem Hassan’s preference.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot more vocally opposed pension sweeteners during her term, including a last-ditch attempt to convince Pritzker to veto firefighter pension legislation that was projected to add between $18 million and $30 million to the city’s annual bill.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2025
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Majorities oppose the imposition of tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, with approval ratings of just 27%, 29% and 36%, respectively.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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