DEFYING Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

defying

verb

present participle of defy

as in disobeying

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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as in daring

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

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as in confronting

to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm

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as in resisting

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

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 defying Zelensky accused Moscow of breaking the apparent agreement and, in turn, resumed strikes against Russian oil facilities, defying pressure from Washington. — Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 On the Champs-Elysées, groups of protesters set up barricades, defying police bans on protest actions there. — Elina Baudier Kim, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 But these magical, convention-defying places are also one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Seemingly defying Father Time, James continues to be an elite player. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 This process included buying a physics-defying piece of furniture that without aid of magic could toggle between both a bed and sofa — something called a futon. — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 Every gravity-defying pool that has followed-from those perched on tropical clifftops to the ones suspended in Dubai skyscrapers-owes something to that oceanfront plunge in the South of France. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 Over an untucked ecru button-up and straight-legged navy trousers, D’Arcy wore a gravity-defying blazer, looking as though they got caught in a gust of wind. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 Yet Dodik has consistently tested those limits, openly defying Bosnia’s national government in the capital, Sarajevo, and making moves for Republika Srpska to separate from the country. — Eldar Emric, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defying

Verb

Smith was charged with disobeying an officer, a misdemeanor, according to Placer Superior Court records.

— Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Cops had issued summonses to the driver twice before, once in 2024 for failing to yield to a pedestrian and in 2018 for disobeying a traffic device, officials said.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of disobeying

Verb

Slotkin released a video and a statement responding to the president following his remarks, daring the administration to come after her.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
Emily Ratajkowski has been keeping busy in Los Angeles, mixing daring mirror selfies with a little romance.

— Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of daring

Verb

There never was a better moment for a movement aimed at resisting fascism, preventing war and eliminating poverty at home.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
The officer also alleges Bowman continued resisting after the taser was used, before eventually complying.

— Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of resisting

Verb

Cameron Berg, who founded the nonprofit Reciprocal Research to study the potential for AI consciousness, argues that ignoring the question could carry its own dangers.

— Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2026
With nearly 70% of listeners now consuming video podcasts, treating an interview as just a microphone chat means ignoring how your audience actually consumes content.

— Victoria Usher, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of ignoring

Verb

Residential growth, in particular, can be challenging to manage because of the cost of providing county services, Helms said.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
That shift, often associated with luxury dupe culture, is challenging traditional ideas about status, brand loyalty and what counts as a smart buy.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of challenging

Verb

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing one of the most significant electoral tests of his decades-long political career after three years of war, crisis and global outcry over the country's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

— Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
As technology companies become increasingly valuable, executives are facing greater scrutiny over how that wealth should benefit the public.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of facing

Verb

But, that doesn’t mean companies need to sacrifice and give into the pressure of opposing conference games in order to get the better rating.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Powered by a defensive unit that tallied three takeaways, four sacks and limited the opposing offense to 156 yards, UCLA earned its seventh win of the season Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl, trouncing Michigan State 28-10.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of opposing

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defy

defying

dégagé

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“Defying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defying. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of defying

verb

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