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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Recent Examples of defiant
Hegseth, however, was defiant on Wednesday, and has vowed to continue fighting for the nomination.
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Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a defiant speech last Wednesday, insisting that the Axis was alive and well.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Only after defiant parliament members rushed into the National Assembly and voted unanimously to reject the order did Yoon reverse course, ending six chaotic hours, which saw protests erupt in the capital city.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
George, defiant and determined to return home, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiant 
Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a defiant speech last Wednesday, insisting that the Axis was alive and well.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Only after defiant parliament members rushed into the National Assembly and voted unanimously to reject the order did Yoon reverse course, ending six chaotic hours, which saw protests erupt in the capital city.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
George, defiant and determined to return home, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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The news is a huge deal because rebellious Prince Fiyero is the ultimate catch for the students and Galinda.Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
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No, this particular meeting of rebellious minds is an invention of the screenplay.Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In September, Israel launched another strike on Hodeida, killing at least four people after a rebel missile targeted Ben Gurion Airport as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was returning to the country.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
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The rebel groups that joined HTS to topple the regime made for a complex network of fighters, at times backed by foreign nations who were focused on battling different enemies.Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Fed’s preferred inflation measure — the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index — is due Friday and could similarly show stubborn price pressures.Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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However, Kamil Kovar, senior economist at Moody’s Analytics, argued in a note that stubborn core inflation would continue to spur ECB caution next year.Jenni Reid, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near defiant
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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