defiance

noun

de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s How to pronounce defiance (audio)
dē-
Synonyms of defiance
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
jailed for defiance of a court order
2
: disposition to resist : willingness to contend or fight
dealing with a child's defiance
see also:
in defiance of

Synonyms of defiance

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Examples of defiance in a Sentence

any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
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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.
Appointments to Iran’s senior security leadership in the past month, however, have signaled Tehran’s defiance after weathering decades of sanctions. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Even in that moment of defiance, though, he is drawn back toward his actual father. — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026 Since then, mayoral defiance of the legal obligations to enforce the council’s budget has left the city financially short of that modest projection. — Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 These tragic flashpoints were mythologized into persecution stories, recast by right-wing Christian leaders not as tragic consequences of radical defiance but as proof of an evil secular government at war with faith and freedom. — Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defiance

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diffiaunce, defyaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French defiance, difiaunce, from defier, desfier "to renounce, challenge, defy entry 1" + -ance, -aunce -ance

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of defiance was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing defiance

Rhymes for defiance

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Browse Nearby Words

defial
defiance
defiant
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Cite this Entry

“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiance. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

defiance

noun
de·​fi·​ance di-ˈfī-ən(t)s How to pronounce defiance (audio)
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
2
: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition

More from Merriam-Webster on defiance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about defiance

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