defy
1 of 2verb
de·fy di-ˈfī 
dē-
defied; defying
transitive verb
1
: to confront with assured power of resistance : disregard
defy public opinion
in trouble for defying a court order
2
: to resist attempts at : withstand
the paintings defy classification
a decision that defies all logic
3
: to challenge to do something considered impossible : dare
defied us to name a better movie
4
archaic : to challenge to combat
defy
2 of 2noun
de·fy di-ˈfī ˈdē-ˌfī
ˈdē-ˌfī plural defies
: challenge, defiance
observers took this to be a form of defy
Jack Alexander
Jack Alexander
Synonyms
Verb
- disobey
- mock
- rebel (against)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She defied her parents and dropped out of school. The group has continued to defy all efforts to stop them.
Recent Examples on the Web Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 Diane Keaton is back—and with a delightfully oddball comedy that will certainly defy your expectations. Liam Hess, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2022 Now, his only job is writing, recording, and performing songs that defy the gravity of genre to scale some of the highest ambitions on the planet — and that leaves him with time to kill. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2022 Some pieces have a sculptural quality that defy the inherent softness and malleability of fiber. Tracey Teo, ajc, 28 Mar. 2022 Some are mulling giving themselves the power to appoint Electoral College slates that defy the will of voters. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 6 Jan. 2022 But Maverick doesn’t have to defy expectations or break the wheel of a Top Gun movie. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 June 2022 This uneasy legacy has caused brands like Lemonade to step up and powerfully disrupt the existing narrative and defy low expectations. Andrew Dunbar, Forbes, 19 May 2022 Still, Lamb has lagged in the polls behind Fetterman and will need to defy expectations to become his party’s nominee. Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022 Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2022 The elms of Castine defy capture by an amateur like me. Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2022 This feels like a real American family story with characters who have rough edges and defy stereotypes. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2022 In fact, given Black and Latino students’ persistent low achievement in math — and the techniques used in districts that have higher success rates — aspects of the change defy logic. oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2022 Fortunately, some qualities of the Gravity 9 defy experience and form. Adam Chase, Outside Online, 3 Mar. 2020 To produce acts that defy expectations, performances must consistently push the boundaries of imagination. Karl Moore, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2022 The potential deals would boost the economy and defy predictions that remote work will kill offices. Roland Li, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Nov. 2021 What’s happening right now, as recalcitrant witnesses like Steve Bannon defy subpoenas in a collective effort among Trump allies to sandbag the commission, should be instructive for the Biden administration. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 19 Oct. 2021 See More
Verb
Meghan agreed, adding that women who dare to defy are often criticized. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 Diane Keaton is back—and with a delightfully oddball comedy that will certainly defy your expectations. Liam Hess, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2022 Now, his only job is writing, recording, and performing songs that defy the gravity of genre to scale some of the highest ambitions on the planet — and that leaves him with time to kill. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2022 Some pieces have a sculptural quality that defy the inherent softness and malleability of fiber. Tracey Teo, ajc, 28 Mar. 2022 Some are mulling giving themselves the power to appoint Electoral College slates that defy the will of voters. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 6 Jan. 2022 But Maverick doesn’t have to defy expectations or break the wheel of a Top Gun movie. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 June 2022 This uneasy legacy has caused brands like Lemonade to step up and powerfully disrupt the existing narrative and defy low expectations. Andrew Dunbar, Forbes, 19 May 2022 Still, Lamb has lagged in the polls behind Fetterman and will need to defy expectations to become his party’s nominee. Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022 Noun
The challenge for Democrats will be to maintain the energy for several more months and defy trends that typically trip up the party in power. Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2022 The elms of Castine defy capture by an amateur like me. Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2022 This feels like a real American family story with characters who have rough edges and defy stereotypes. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2022 In fact, given Black and Latino students’ persistent low achievement in math — and the techniques used in districts that have higher success rates — aspects of the change defy logic. oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2022 Fortunately, some qualities of the Gravity 9 defy experience and form. Adam Chase, Outside Online, 3 Mar. 2020 To produce acts that defy expectations, performances must consistently push the boundaries of imagination. Karl Moore, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2022 The potential deals would boost the economy and defy predictions that remote work will kill offices. Roland Li, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Nov. 2021 What’s happening right now, as recalcitrant witnesses like Steve Bannon defy subpoenas in a collective effort among Trump allies to sandbag the commission, should be instructive for the Biden administration. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 19 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English defien "to renounce, disavow, scorn, challenge to fight," borrowed from Anglo-French defier, desfier, from de-, des- de- + fier "to pledge, trust in, rely on," going back to Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, re-formation of Latin fīdere "to trust (in), have confidence (in)" — more at faith entry 1
Note: The sense history was perhaps "to break faith with" > "to scorn" > "to challenge to a fight," though the latter meaning appears to be the earliest in Old French.
Noun
in part borrowed from Middle French deffy, noun derivative of defier "to challenge, defy entry 1," in part derivative of defy entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Noun
1580, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing defy
Kids Definition
defy
verb
de·fy di-ˈfī
defied; defying
1
: to refuse boldly to obey or yield to
The protesters defied orders to leave.
2
: to challenge to do something thought to be impossible : dare
I defy you to explain the trick.
3
: to resist attempts at : withstand
The scene defies description.
defied
verb
1
as in disobeyed
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
- disobeyed
- ignored
- mocked
- violated
- resisted
- dismissed
- rejected
- opposed
- disregarded
- fought
- flouted
- withstood
- bucked
- transgressed
- breached
- scorned
- rebelled (against)
- overlooked
- broke
- overpassed
- disputed
- passed over
- disobliged
- combated
- contested
- pooh-poohed
- tuned out
- shrugged off
- infringed
- revolted (against)
- poohed
- mutinied (against)
- combatted
- scoffed (at)
- winked (at)
- brushed (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- followed
- obeyed
- served
- complied (with)
- minded
- submitted (to)
- observed
- conformed (to)
- kept
- yielded (to)
- surrendered (to)
- deferred (to)
- conceded (to)
- stooped (to)
- obliged
- capitulated (to)
- heard
- noted
- cooperated (with)
- regarded
- agreed (to)
- attended
- heeded
- marked
- noticed
- watched
- assented (to)
- goose-stepped (to)
- acquiesced (to)
- acceded (to)
- listened (to)
2
as in dared
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better Synonyms & Similar Words
- dared
- challenged
- confronted
- stumped
- braved
- faced
- bearded
- brazened
- breasted
- outbraved
- outfaced
3
as in confronted
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm Synonyms & Similar Words
- confronted
- faced
- braved
- dared
- withstood
- resisted
- encountered
- bearded
- brazened
- breasted
- met
- challenged
- outfaced
- outbraved
- fought
- approached
- fronted
- stood up to
- affronted
- stood
- opposed
- battled
- accosted
- cornered
- repelled
- combated
- faced up (to)
- combatted
- contended (with)
- squared (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- eschewed
- avoided
- dodged
- shunned
- shirked
- ducked
- evaded
- eluded
- sidestepped
- shook
- escaped
- funked
4
as in resisted
to refuse to give in to a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races Synonyms & Similar Words
- resisted
- opposed
- withstood
- fought
- bucked
- repelled
- challenged
- contradicted
- thwarted
- balked
- combated
- countered
- battled
- contested
- baffled
- combatted
- hindered
- disputed
- frustrated
- foiled
- stemmed
- obstructed
- checked
- contended (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- succumbed (to)
- submitted (to)
- stooped (to)
- surrendered (to)
- yielded (to)
- bowed (to)
- capitulated (to)
- gave in (to)
- knuckled under (to)