1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposition
the inclination to resist
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a deeply troubled person who seemed the very soul of defiance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 defiance
Fire becomes the emotional and symbolic thread running through their lives, at once destructive and regenerative, a source of passion, defiance, and inner strength.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Iran’s defiance came as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and as the United States deployed paratroopers and more Marines to the region.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
And an underdog who stayed in the contest in defiance of steep odds and, seemingly, common sense.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
To Foligno, that shift is not defiance.
—Dan Robson, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Iran’s defiance came as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and as the United States deployed paratroopers and more Marines to the region.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
And an underdog who stayed in the contest in defiance of steep odds and, seemingly, common sense.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
To Foligno, that shift is not defiance.
—Dan Robson, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
-
The stumbles provided ammunition to a bipartisan congressional rebellion that eventually led to overwhelming passage of a bill requiring release of all the files, although the DOJ has been slow to comply.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Seeing privileged young women wisen up to their standardized subjugation is bound to be less dramatic than witnessing a righteous workers’ rebellion.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Vessel’s starkly sharp architecture — critics call it cold or even brutally modernistic — has drawn pushback in several affluent suburbs, but its supporters say opposition is often based on a reluctance to bring lower- to moderate-income people into upscale neighborhoods.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Protesters filled the streets Saturday at more than 3,300 rallies across all 50 states for No Kings, a movement that bills itself as nonviolent opposition to what organizers view as authoritarian rulers in the White House and beyond.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kyiv fears that Moscow could use that territory as a launchpad for further aggression.—
Volodymyr Yurchuk,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Unfortunately, the quality of the program was low and resulted in rising aggression and behavior issues among children, especially boys, and hurt parental relationships.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nooshin Meshkaty, an Iranian American businessperson, said even though the government has tried to limit people for 47 years, it has always been met with resistance.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
As playful as the movie is, its central tale of persecution and resistance plays not like an allegory but like a communion, a linking of the times—the inspiration of conscience by the revelation of past heroism, political and artistic.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Colorado’s aggressiveness with trading away draft picks and prospects to help the NHL club’s pursuit of a Stanley Cup has often left the organization’s pipeline thin, but also provides opportunities for undrafted players like Logan O’Connor and Sam Malinski to earn chances and thrive.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Frost have played well with aggressiveness and their speed on the ice all season.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Thanks to its modular and distinctly unmilitary design, the U-2 fit the bill and sidestepped the Air Force's objections when the command of the operation went to the CIA.—
David Szondy
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
-
As long as dogs are well cared for, there shouldn’t be any objection.—
Ed Sayres,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
