defied

[dih-fahyd] / dɪˈfaɪd /

VERB

challenge, frustrate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

confront disregard elude flout ignore mock oppose provoke resist ridicule spurn thwart violate withstand

STRONG

baffle beard brave contemn dare defeat deride despise face foil front gibe insult repel repulse scorn slight stick venture

WEAK

fly in face of hang tough hurl defiance at make my day outdare stick fast take one on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist flatter help note pay attention praise regard respect

STRONG

abet admire attract commend compliment encourage give up hide like love

WEAK

give in obey surrender yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

defied

Stocks edged back from records Friday, with investors weighing weaker-than-anticipated economic data against an earnings season that has defied expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Earlier, thousands of demonstrators defied a massive police presence and braved wind and rain to gather without incident.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Hogh netted the same number in the same tournament as Bodo/Glimt defied the odds to reach the last 16.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

When the homicide rate was rising, it defied criminologists’ expectations, breaking away from the property crime decline of the 2010s.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

Calculus, at its core, defied the logic of mathematics.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife