DEFIED Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

defied

verb

past tense of defy

as in disobeyed

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 dared

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 confronted

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 resisted

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 defied Ozon is the next economic pressure point Russia’s economy has defied the skeptics. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Researchers spent decades trying to target a group of mutations called RAS — responsible for nearly a third of all human cancers — but the protein’s flat shape defied typical drugs. — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The results of Niccol’s sustained investments and commitment to his employees have been nothing short of astonishing, bearing out in financial results which have defied Wall Street consensus by miles. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 For Mara Isaacs, the show’s creative producer, the outsized box office returns are just the latest milestone for a production that has defied the odds at every point. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026 The display defied restrictions preventing Israeli participants from competing under their national flag. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Throughout his illustrious career, 71-year-old filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa has defied being bound and chained to any specific genre. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 Post Opinions writers share which appointees have defied expectations. — Washington Post Opinions, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2026 While on the surface, that’s a startling drop for a nameplate that has long defied the normal premium sports car depreciation curve. — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defied

Verb

Once upon a time, but not so long ago, there was a woman who disobeyed her father by loving another man.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
Ulysses expresses sorrowful regret for having disobeyed Zeus’ Law – essentially the Golden Rule – in sacking Troy.

— Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 July 2026

Definition of disobeyed

Verb

Surveillance video from the Cedar Glenn complex showed Brunson, Newman, and another unnamed co-defendant jumping a fence, approaching a Chevrolet Suburban, and fleeing after being confronted by a witness.

— Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Pursued by monstrous entities and confronted by manifestations of human suffering, Dante and Virgil will eventually come face to face with the Devil himself.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of confronted

Verb

The suspect was uncooperative during the contact and physically resisted, briefly pulling the officer partially inside his vehicle, Lincoln police said in a social media post.

— Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The tribute carries particular resonance because Parton had previously resisted efforts to put her own legacy on a pedestal.

— Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of resisted

Verb

Neighbors said their complaints about the empty lot were ignored for years until a fire burned part of the property and neighbor Kayt Miranda's garage early on Wednesday morning.

— Joy Benedict, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
The stock that spent two years being ignored by the same investors who loaded up on Hilton and Marriott is now having its moment.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of ignored

Verb

Davis’ defense attorney, Michael Sanft, challenged jurors to identify evidence outside Davis’ own statements that placed him in Las Vegas or inside the Cadillac on the night Shakur was shot.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Still, the emotionally stunted John claims not to harbor ill feelings toward Hal, though this is most certainly challenged by the end of the episode.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenged

Verb

El-Sayed has taken heat from some in his party over his associations with Piker, the left-wing streamer whose comments about American Jews have faced intense criticism in recent days.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
An inquest opened Wednesday into the sudden death earlier this month of Jason Arday, a Cambridge University professor who faced a storm of plagiarism accusations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of faced

Verb

There, the president’s order and the post office rule enforcing it will certainly be opposed by the Court’s three liberal justices, who disagreed with the conclusion that opponents had filed their case too soon.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The union has opposed such a window on the belief players would feel forced into subpar contracts.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of opposed

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defied

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“Defied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defied. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of defied

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