as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
Greg Vanney was in a defiant mood after the LA Galaxy’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Union on May 14.
—
Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Compared with his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, Lai has taken a stronger and more defiant stance in the face of growing Chinese threats to the island, as evident in his rhetoric and new policy measures.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
Post match, the 17-year-old was in a typically defiant mood.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Compared with his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, Lai has taken a stronger and more defiant stance in the face of growing Chinese threats to the island, as evident in his rhetoric and new policy measures.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
Post match, the 17-year-old was in a typically defiant mood.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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These two regions are no longer promising New World upstarts or rebellious outposts of Bordeaux.—
Jessica Dupuy,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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Meanwhile, Paul finds himself in a work crisis that puts the lifestyle of Julie and their rebellious son Russ (Simon Webster) in jeopardy, leading Julie back to the dopey sweetness of Carey.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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President Trump met with former rebel leader turned new president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2025
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Incidents of violence by rebel groups fell from 1,936 in 2010 to 374 in 2024, according to data from the home ministry.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Jet fuel rolled down the street and the smell of it lingered in the air while authorities worked to extinguish one stubborn car fire that sent smoke billowing up.—
John Hanna,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2025
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Of course, stubborn coach Tom Thibodeau went with his only play, a Jalen Brunson iso, while the starters huffed and puffed from playing nearly the entire game.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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