defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 
dē-
Phrases
in defiance of
: contrary to : despite
seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics
He returned to the pulpit May 22 in defiance of an order by church leaders banning him from television preaching for one year.—
Daniel E. Kubiske
Daniel E. KubiskeSynonyms
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
Recent Examples on the Web
The dissenters—who were ordered to leave Hanover within three days—became known as the Göttingen Seven, and their act of defiance was later enshrined in German history as a banner moment in the nation’s path to democracy.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Their decision to kiss in front of the preachers was not just an act of defiance, but a message to the world.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
The mugshot snapped of Trump in August 2023 after a Democratic district attorney brought unprecedented criminal charges against him in Georgia quickly became an iconic image of defiance for his supporters, for example.
—Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Christ stands with arms folded, eyes narrowed—a perfect image of sulking adolescent defiance.
—Christian K. Kleinbub, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiance 
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.
Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Their decision to kiss in front of the preachers was not just an act of defiance, but a message to the world.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
The mugshot snapped of Trump in August 2023 after a Democratic district attorney brought unprecedented criminal charges against him in Georgia quickly became an iconic image of defiance for his supporters, for example.
—Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Christ stands with arms folded, eyes narrowed—a perfect image of sulking adolescent defiance.
—Christian K. Kleinbub, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiance
Dictionary Entries Near defiance
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiance. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
2
: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share