1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of defiance
Yet rather than make loud, public protests to oppose the shift, many tech employees have instead carried out more subtle acts of defiance.
—
Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2025
As the cease-fire takes effect, Gaza is full of grief and defiance, guest columnist Emad Moussa writes.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
Listen to this article Florida lawmakers Monday overturned Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto of about $57 million for the Legislature’s operations, marking a rare act of defiance against a governor who has wielded commanding influence.
—Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2025
The city was forced to padlock the doors in the face of such defiance of rules and regulations.
—Siobhan McLaughlin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2025
As the cease-fire takes effect, Gaza is full of grief and defiance, guest columnist Emad Moussa writes.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025
Listen to this article Florida lawmakers Monday overturned Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto of about $57 million for the Legislature’s operations, marking a rare act of defiance against a governor who has wielded commanding influence.
—Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2025
The city was forced to padlock the doors in the face of such defiance of rules and regulations.
—Siobhan McLaughlin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
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Flowy gowns, and darker hues of usually vibrant shades are used possibly to convey the love, despair, rebellion, and individualism the designer mentioned in his show notes.—
Kerane Marcellus,
Essence,
13 Feb. 2025
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The first is Hotspur’s — poor, reckless lionheart, unlucky enough to be born on the wrong side of the rebellion.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In 2020, the Trump administration pressured the CDC to invoke Title 42, despite opposition from subject matter experts at the agency who believed the move was not rooted in public health and was instead a way for officials to further President Trump's immigration crackdown.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2025
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Under the initial plan, the ID would be required for boarding flights in the U.S and entering some federal facilities by 2008, but that deadline has been continuously extended amid opposition from states.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The drills around Taiwan are only the latest example of Chinese aggression this month.—
Anders Hagstrom,
Fox News,
26 Feb. 2025
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The paper said that the text did not contain clear security guarantees for Ukraine against Russian aggression, which have been priorities for Kyiv in a deal to end the war started by Putin.—
John Feng,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Lift some weights The most effective resistance exercises for building lean muscle and losing fat are those that require multiple joints in the body to work together, according to the nonprofit American Council on Exercise.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN,
25 Feb. 2025
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The material is lightweight and airy for warm spring days, with a bit of stretch and wrinkle resistance.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In January 2021, after took office, some Republican senators attempted to delay his Cabinet confirmations by slow-walking the process through procedural delays and objections rather than filibuster speeches.—
Ewan Palmer,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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Now judges will be able to decide while also being able to consider objections from both the defense and the prosecutors.—
Alex Malm,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The stakes for Thursday's game were raised amid physical hostility between the teams throughout the tournament and geopolitical tension between the two countries in recent weeks.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
21 Feb. 2025
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Police said Mangione was in possession of a firearm matching the one used in the shooting, a fake ID and a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives.—
Katherine Fung,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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No disrespect to Sir Paul McCartney, but Dwayne Carter Jr. (a.k.a. Lil Wayne) clearly had the superior musical medley of the night.—
Andy Hoglund,
EW.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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Public disrespect should be met with the most immediate public apology through the same medium.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That kind of aspirational-prediction dynamic is informing Trump’s disobedience of congressional statutes that limit his control over the executive branch.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
The New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2025
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These laws sought to punish the people of Massachusetts for their disobedience during the Boston Tea Party by suspending civil government and trial by jury, among other things.—
Lawrence B.A. Hatter / Made by History,
TIME,
4 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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