defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 
dē-
Phrases
in defiance of
: contrary to : despite
seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics
He returned to the pulpit May 22 in defiance of an order by church leaders banning him from television preaching for one year.—
Daniel E. Kubiske
Daniel E. KubiskeExamples of defiance in a Sentence
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Recent Examples on the Web
Atul Gawande, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, wrote on X that 5,800 USAID contracts have been terminated in defiance of the courts.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
The strange particulars of his passing remain a mystery thus far, but Hackman’s life was lived in quiet defiance of Hollywood fame and the strictures of celebrity.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
Trump tried to kill the bill, but 22 Republicans rejected his attempts, a rare act of defiance these days in Republican politics.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025
In a statement, Rico Nasty described the album as a celebration of self-confidence and defiance.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
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Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
The strange particulars of his passing remain a mystery thus far, but Hackman’s life was lived in quiet defiance of Hollywood fame and the strictures of celebrity.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
Trump tried to kill the bill, but 22 Republicans rejected his attempts, a rare act of defiance these days in Republican politics.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025
In a statement, Rico Nasty described the album as a celebration of self-confidence and defiance.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiance. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
2
: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition
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