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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defy
Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals was once thought to be unbeatable but Ovechkin is set to defy the odds.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Notably, the administration defied Boasberg's court order last month to turn back flights deporting about 250 Venezuelans to El Salvador.
—April Rubin, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Utilities Europe’s utility stocks led gains on Thursday, defying a broader market sell-off as investors reacted to Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
—Chloe Taylor,jenni Reid,sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
By the time Vought’s nomination came up for a vote, on February 6th, Trump had openly defied spending statutes by issuing an executive order that froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Notably, the administration defied Boasberg's court order last month to turn back flights deporting about 250 Venezuelans to El Salvador.
—April Rubin, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Utilities Europe’s utility stocks led gains on Thursday, defying a broader market sell-off as investors reacted to Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
—Chloe Taylor,jenni Reid,sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
By the time Vought’s nomination came up for a vote, on February 6th, Trump had openly defied spending statutes by issuing an executive order that froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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After a federal judge ordered the government to respond to the accusation that CBP disobeyed a court order by deporting Alawieh, lawyers from the Justice Department denied the accusation the morning of March 17, court records show.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2025
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Her attorneys argue the government disobeyed the order.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This was the puzzle: The Torch and the Treasure A Bridge Puzzle of Strategy, Speed... and Stolen Gold Five daring fantasy thieves—a nimble Elf, a sneaky Goblin, a fleet-footed Satyr, a gruff Dwarf, and a hulking Troll—have just pulled off the heist of the century.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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In fact, Bryant is daring her clients to incorporate bright colors into the bones of their homes through tile and paint.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This story is not just a story of Iranian women, but a story that is confronting ideas of body image.—
Xian Horn,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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When confronted by intruders, the resident caterpillars dialed up the signal rate by about four times.—
Becky Ferreira,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Vrabel then asked players to resist pulling sweatshirt hoodies over their heads during meetings.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Several House Republicans have resisted increasing pressure from President Trump to swallow a blueprint that's key to extending his tax cuts, which are set to expire this year.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pedro Pascal isn't ignoring an obvious parallel between himself and his character in the HBO series The Last of Us.—
Arabella Hau,
People.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.—
Brenda Stolyar,
Wired News,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Spoelstra unsuccessfully challenged that second Adebayo foul, left without a challenge the balance of the night.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2025
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In their filing, attorneys for Öztürk also challenge the legality of her detention.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Chandler is 2-4 with the UFC, but outside his 2022 matchup against a fading Tony Ferguson, the 38-year-old has only faced the elite of the division.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Social media personality Tate, who along with his brother Tristan faces rape, human trafficking and tax evasion charges in Romania, the U.K. and the U.S. (and even more allegations as recent as March this year), is a pioneer of the manosphere.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In special House elections during Trump era, fortune rarely favors opposing party In: Adam Schiff Politics Washington D.C.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2025
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Evers, notably, also opposed the change in standards, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.—
Caroline Vakil,
The Hill,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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