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.

Almost 1.2 million undocumented migrants have sought legal status in Spain under a scheme that has defied a growing European crackdown on irregular immigration, according to final figures released on Thursday.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

But then, Glover defied that genre’s labels by treating each episode as its own cinematic experience.

From Salon • Jul. 1, 2026

But bitcoin’s performance during the first half of 2026 has defied those expectations.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026

They defied New Zealand for 80 minutes and 17 overs.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

He had a looseness and a fluidity that defied physics—imagine a jellyfish if it could walk on land.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah