as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 defiant
Inside the swanky The Soho Hotel in central London in June, just weeks before suddenly shutting down the payments system, Raanan had struck a defiant tone.
—
Iain Martin, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Close’s Grandmother pees on a rock and arches her back, almost defiant in face of sunrise.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2024
The essay’s many short, declarative sentences gave off a punchy, defiant vibe.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024
From her new vantage point, however, Wong’s confidence has a more defiant cast.
—Variety, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiant 
Iain Martin, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Close’s Grandmother pees on a rock and arches her back, almost defiant in face of sunrise.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2024
The essay’s many short, declarative sentences gave off a punchy, defiant vibe.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024
From her new vantage point, however, Wong’s confidence has a more defiant cast.
—Variety, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
-
Tired of the toxic culture within the group, Veronica teams up with her rebellious new boyfriend, J.D. (played by Christian Slater), and things quickly spiral out of control as their plot to take down the Heathers turns deadly.Jane LaCroix, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
-
Her funny dynamics with her siblings were more than relatable with Justin (David Henrie) as the smart, trustworthy kind of uptight eldest sibling, Alex, as the middle child with a rebellious spirit, and Max (Jake T. Austin) as the funny and a bit dumb younger brother.Stephanie Andrade, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
The rebel spark in my heart, though, wasn’t completely snuffed.Lili Anolik, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
-
Over the past year, the conflict between rebel forces and government troops in Myanmar has brought new refugees to the settlements.Maria Isabel Barros Guinle, NPR, 1 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
McCaffrey hadn’t played since the Super Bowl in Las Vegas while battling a stubborn case of Achilles tendinitis.Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
-
You might be tempted to whip out your strongest acne-fighting products to destroy your stubborn zit.Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near defiant
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share