DEFIANT Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

defiant

adjective

di-ˈfī-ənt

Definition of defiant

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football

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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 defiant Laurie Whitwell Were South Africa unlucky after defiant defensive display? — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 28 June 2026 Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics (at least for one game) with a defiant performance against Uzbekistan, which is ranked 58th in the world by FIFA. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 24 June 2026 La Roja held a staggering 74% possession and 27 shots on goal, but was repeatedly frustrated by a defiant Cape Verde defense and veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 Terri Hupfer, draped in a Pride flag and a Giants’ issued Pride T-shirt, drove 90 minutes from her Delta home to join Tuesday’s pregame gathering, which was organized online and drew more media and police than defiant (or supportive) fans. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for defiant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant

Adjective

For seven seasons, a hodgepodge crew mixing Starfleet and the rebellious Maquis put aside their differences after they got zapped 70,000 lightyears away from Earth, deep into the uncharted Delta Quadrant.

— Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of rebellious

Adjective

In early 2025, fighting broke out between Congolese authorities and groups led by the rebel paramilitary group M23.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026
In the middle of the developments are are lawyer Wayne Hsiung and rebel Rose Patterson, who through the process of filming, fell in love, got married and adopted James, a dog rescued from the facility in March.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026

Definition of rebel

Adjective

Colombia earned its passage into the round of 16 with a 1-0 win over stubborn Ghana.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Pickle Robot’s Physical AI unloaders tackle the dock door bottleneck, which is a stubborn pain point in inbound logistics, while AmbiStack handles the structured, high-volume stacking that feeds downstream operations.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 July 2026

Definition of stubborn

Browse Nearby Words

defiances

defiant

deficiencies

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“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of defiant

adjective

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