defy

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.

In the last year, the U.S. economy has seemed to defy gravity, withstanding a chaotic trade war, shocks to the labor supply, and wild swings in the stock market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Their ability to enact change depended on their willingness to defy current custom and mores.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

But somehow, I have managed to defy the odds, becoming the rare outlier to not only protect my job from the A.I. monster’s bite but profit from its terrors.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

"These ultra-low-density super-puff planets are rare, and they defy conventional understanding of how gas giants form. And if explaining how one formed wasn't difficult enough, this system has three!"

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

They seem to defy the laws of gravity.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney