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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defy
Some presidents defy political gravity, to the delight of their impersonators.
—
Sopan Deb, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
On Monday, a federal judge in Rhode Island found the White House had defied an earlier court order to unfreeze federal grant and program funds.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 12 Feb. 2025
These are conduits for the world defying their geographic designations.
—Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
That WeatherTech is still going head-to-head with some of the biggest brands in the world — a true David-and-Goliath marketing story — has defied skeptics and arguably changed the game of Super Bowl advertising.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Sopan Deb, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
On Monday, a federal judge in Rhode Island found the White House had defied an earlier court order to unfreeze federal grant and program funds.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 12 Feb. 2025
These are conduits for the world defying their geographic designations.
—Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
That WeatherTech is still going head-to-head with some of the biggest brands in the world — a true David-and-Goliath marketing story — has defied skeptics and arguably changed the game of Super Bowl advertising.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
-
There is some chance that the Court, which knows that its popularity and public trust are at historic lows, will fear that this President might contemplate disobeying a court’s order to issue citizenship documents, and choose not to test him.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
The New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Stella explains that Damon lied about disobeying orders and that there have been trust issues in the past.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
9 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
As seen through Leite’s hedonistic sensibilities, Brazil’s red-light districts vibrated with intoxicating samba and bohemian camaraderie; shrewd madams kept the police at bay, and clients did not dare mistreat the women.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Since the pirates had seized their phones, those few who had managed to hide secondary phones did not dare to use them in the open.—
Soham Mitra, Lou Robinson and Patrick Gallagher,
CNN,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
They were reported for confronting community members at 11 businesses.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The 79-year-old Oscar winner embraces the challenging role of the Dutton family matriarch alongside co-star Harrison Ford, confronting everything from mountain lions to the harsh realities of frontier life.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Half a day, gone like that, just browsing and discovering and then being unable to resist buying.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Ukraine has tried to resist a total capitulation to American demands on natural resources, but has faced intense pressure from President Trump, who views access to Ukraine’s vast mineral wealth as necessary repayment for the billions the United States has provided Kyiv for its war against Russia.—
Constant Méheut,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Prison staff had ignored warning signs of his suicide, the lawsuit claims.—
Thomas C. Zambito,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
WIRED,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The Homer Township Reset slate, a group of Republicans challenging the incumbent township administration, was leading by a large margin Tuesday night in the Homer Township Republican primary after all precincts reported, according to unofficial results.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Trump is already facing extensive litigation challenging many of the measures.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
That experience, and the new reality trans people will face under this order, are the tangible reflections of what may seem to others to be a mere letter on a page.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Most of those schools have not yet faced any consequences for failing to boost their secular education.—
Eliza Shapiro,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
No executions have been carried out in Louisiana since 2010 due to the state’s struggles to get the drugs necessary for lethal injection and scant political will (Landry’s predecessor, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, was opposed to the death penalty).—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
24 Feb. 2025
-
For example, the association opposes the federal Community Reinvestment Act, which is designed to encourage lending to lower-income and other groups but which, the ABA said, discourages bankers from offering certain products or lending outside of their area networks.—
Russ Wiles,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share