defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

dē-

: full of or showing a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight : full of or showing defiance : bold, impudent

defiant rebels

a defiant refusal

Mantor struck a defiant pose, his chin out, and rocked for a moment on the heels of his boots.

—Christopher Ketcham

Synonyms

• balky
• contrary
• contumacious
• disobedient
• froward
• incompliant
• insubordinate
• intractable
• obstreperous
• rebel
• rebellious
• recalcitrant
• recusant
• refractory
• restive
• ungovernable
• unruly
• untoward
• wayward
• willful
• wilful

Examples of defiant in a Sentence

He's taken a defiant stand on the issue.

the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football

Recent Examples on the Web

The Trump campaign had come back to Butler to stage its own retaliation, an over-the-top reminder that its candidate was defiant in the face of death, and possibly preordained for the Presidency. —Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

Despite the legal case, a defiant Musk posted the latest winner in his $1m giveaway on X this morning. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

By Monday, after a day of speculation about his starting job, Moss had taken on a more defiant tone. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

The Synopsis reads: George, defiant and determined to return home to Rita and his grandfather Gerald in East London, ensues on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

in part borrowed from French défiant "mistrustful," from present participle of défier "to mistrust, challenge, defy entry 1," going back to Old French; in part from defi(ance) + -ant entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defiant

• oppositional defiant disorder

Kids Definition

defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

: full of or showing defiance : impudent, insolent

defiantly adverb