1
as in disobeys
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of
in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in confronts
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in resists
to refuse to give in to
a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defies
Mango’s is a cultural landmark that defies categories.
—
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Just like in the show, blistering choreography that defies every law of physics known to man pits slayer and demon against each other with artistic flourishes personified by elements of the natural world.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025
In the historic Walled City, Casa Bohème transforms a historic building into a new destination that defies definition.
—Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Joseph of Egypt tells the Old Testament story about Joseph, who, betrayed by jealous brothers, defies all expectations and rises to incredible power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, a lack of suspects prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to team up with Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Critics—who include Democrats, civil rights groups and environmentalists—have said detainees at the facility are forced to endure unsafe, unsanitary and inhumane living conditions and that Alligator Alcatraz defies environmental laws.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Musk’s own apparent approach to Zuckerberg in his bid for OpenAI defies nearly a decade of hostility between the two tech founders, beginning in 2016 when a SpaceX rocket explosion destroyed a Facebook satellite on board.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
But weather, of course, defies consistency.
—Maggie Heyn Richardson, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Just like in the show, blistering choreography that defies every law of physics known to man pits slayer and demon against each other with artistic flourishes personified by elements of the natural world.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025
In the historic Walled City, Casa Bohème transforms a historic building into a new destination that defies definition.
—Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Joseph of Egypt tells the Old Testament story about Joseph, who, betrayed by jealous brothers, defies all expectations and rises to incredible power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, a lack of suspects prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to team up with Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Critics—who include Democrats, civil rights groups and environmentalists—have said detainees at the facility are forced to endure unsafe, unsanitary and inhumane living conditions and that Alligator Alcatraz defies environmental laws.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Musk’s own apparent approach to Zuckerberg in his bid for OpenAI defies nearly a decade of hostility between the two tech founders, beginning in 2016 when a SpaceX rocket explosion destroyed a Facebook satellite on board.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
But weather, of course, defies consistency.
—Maggie Heyn Richardson, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defies
Verb
-
If Putin dares to test NATO again, the consequences will fall on him.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
This sensual, swoon-worthy drama dares to imagine love thriving where prejudice prevails.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Your heart’s in the right place, but your approach needs work as the moon confronts Mars.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Laura confronts Cherry about Nicholas and swears to tell Daniel everything.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In that spirit, the exhibition resists the expectation that women and non-binary artists must define themselves in contrast to a male norm.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
On the durability side, the Air features Ceramic Shield 2 coating, which Apple claims resists scratches and accidental drops better than before.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An energy policy that ignores this will get traction depending on which party is in office but not beyond that.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This perspective ignores the need for people to come to decisions together about truth and reality.—
Sara Giordano,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Trades as a Leadership Classroom Tradespeople face complex, high stakes challenges every day.—
Dan Ringo,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
A student at the center of high-profile Supreme Court challenges to bans on transgender athletes on female sports teams wants the court to drop her case.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trump is a man of many hats Immigration has become the dominant political issue in Britain, eclipsing concerns over a faltering economy, as the country faces a record number of asylum claims.—
Vitalii Yalahuzian,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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As Israel mobilizes an additional 60,000 reservists for its Gaza City offensive, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a showdown over mandatory military service for the Ultra-Orthodox community, a debate sharpened by the strain on reservists pulled from their families for months at a time.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The administration counters that the injunction forces the executive branch to take steps that undermine its own policy, including negotiating with foreign governments over funds the president opposes and sending contradictory signals to Congress.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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Kelley is chastised and eventually replaced by Gustave Gilbert (Colin Hanks), a rival psychologist with a different take, one that opposes Kelley’s more humanistic approach in defining the horrors of that time.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defies. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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