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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of defy
Even so, my father went out of his way to defy social norms and institutions.
—
Lee Chang-Dong, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
President-elect Donald J. Trump’s hammerlock on the Republican Party was shaken on Thursday night when 38 of his party’s lawmakers in the House voted to defy his command to support a spending and debt deal.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, and Sebastian Stan films hit Sundance 2024: See the full lineup
MIDNIGHT
From horror flicks and wild comedies to chilling thrillers and works that defy any genre, these films will keep you wide-awake and on the edge of your seat.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024
The shares closed up 77% for the day, capping a remarkable run for Mao’s premium powders and lotions that have defied the nation’s consumer slowdown.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Asia, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defy 
Lee Chang-Dong, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
President-elect Donald J. Trump’s hammerlock on the Republican Party was shaken on Thursday night when 38 of his party’s lawmakers in the House voted to defy his command to support a spending and debt deal.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, and Sebastian Stan films hit Sundance 2024: See the full lineup
MIDNIGHT
From horror flicks and wild comedies to chilling thrillers and works that defy any genre, these films will keep you wide-awake and on the edge of your seat.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024
The shares closed up 77% for the day, capping a remarkable run for Mao’s premium powders and lotions that have defied the nation’s consumer slowdown.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Asia, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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Since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the extremist group has intensified its oppression of women's rights: extensive censorship, mandatory male guardianship, and burqa/hijab dress-code enforcement that comes with severe penalties for disobeying.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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Despite being threatened to be reported for disobeying his officer’s direct orders to stay sheltered in the ditch, Kohler kept running.Alaa Elassar, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
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His stylist Felicity Kay clearly understands the necessary balance of feminine and masculine elements to push daring fashion.Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 21 Dec. 2024
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Later, the government detained locals who dared to publicly criticize the corruption.Loubna Mrie, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
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After overhearing the fight, Joshua Mayfield-Chavez Jr. confronted Honeywood and shot him, police said.Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
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Instead of confronting the grumpy old man in his present, the Doctor goes back in time and changes his childhood memories right before his eyes.Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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Amazon has consistently resisted unionization efforts, arguing that many of the workers involved—particularly delivery drivers—are not its employees but rather work for third-party Delivery Service Partners.Amir Daftari, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
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In most cases, though, the owner can – and should – resist the request.Joshua Stein, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
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An important social context to Rickey can’t be ignored.Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
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But should investors really be ignoring small caps in 2025?Bret Kenwell, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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Greene is one of several lawmakers who have challenged the official information given by government agencies about the drone sightings.Natalie Venegas, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
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In the months leading to the election, such arrests became more common, but Venezuelans who weren’t looking to visibly challenge Maduro could take comfort in the fact that most of those arrested had political profiles.Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2024
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Payers are focused on reducing costs to boost profitability, often leading to friction with healthcare providers who face increasing administrative burdens and diminishing financial returns.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
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Still, what the industry has faced the past four years has been pretty unprecedented.Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024
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Pushback on the horizon Shocking no one, the multibillion-dollar fossil fuel industry that profits from the sales of gas-burning vehicles staunchly opposes California’s recent rules.Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
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The president-elect also unexpectedly demanded that Congress repeal or suspend the debt ceiling, a controversial and divisive proposal that most conservative GOP lawmakers strongly oppose.Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near defy
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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