defiantly

adverb

de·fi·ant·ly di-ˈfī-ənt-lē

dē-

: in a defiant manner : in a way that is full of or shows a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight

She spoke out defiantly against the proposed law.

As his empire crumbled amid the … scandal, he defiantly refused a graceful exit.—Jonathan Alter

Though restrained, the women do not lack independence, and they wag their tongues as defiantly as ever.—Jason Farago

Examples of defiantly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

There are all these amazing places that are defiantly screening movies. — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 20 May 2026 Its radical glamour felt defiantly alive, insisting on visibility, pleasure, and self-invention as acts of cultural resistance. — Thomas Rom, ARTnews.com, 8 June 2026 Under Paris’ blistering 103-degree heat this week, Rami Malek defiantly sported a leather bomber and Pharrell Williams’ effortless cool chilled down whole city blocks. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 Tom Sturridge, Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and newcomer Luther Ford co-star in this elegy defiantly tethered to life. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for defiantly

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of defiantly was in 1847

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defiant

defiantly

defiber

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Defiantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiantly. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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defiantly

adverb

Examples of defiantly in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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