Synonyms for defy
dɪˈfaɪ; ˈdi faɪ

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. defy, withstand, hold, hold up(verb)

   resist or confront with resistance

   "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held"

   Synonyms:
   accommodate, book, stand up, retain, moderate, view as, support, apply, hold back, harbour, hold out, take hold, bind, hold up, arrest, dare, live, take, have, concord, survive, live on, check, make, take for, go for, stand firm, keep, defend, control, harbor, deem, throw, obligate, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, nurse, oblige, curb, hold, stick up, last, confine, hold water, have got, go, endure, restrain, declare, withstand, agree, hold in, delay, halt, contain, concur, maintain, guard, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, admit, obtain, refuse, resist, detain, bear

   Antonyms:
   lend oneself, apply

2. defy, resist, refuse(verb)

   elude, especially in a baffling way

   "This behavior defies explanation"

   Synonyms:
   pass up, baulk, reject, stand, deny, resist, hold up, hold out, fend, hold, balk, dissent, decline, jib, turn away, stand firm, withstand, refuse, protest, turn down, dare

   Antonyms:
   apply, lend oneself

3. defy, dare(verb)

   challenge

   "I dare you!"

   Synonyms:
   hold up, refuse, make bold, dare, presume, withstand, resist, hold

   Antonyms:
   lend oneself, apply

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms(2.50 / 4 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. defy

   Synonyms:
   scorn, challenge, provoke, despite, brave

Dictionary of English Synonymes(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. defy(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   challenge, dare, bid defiance to, hurl defiance at

2. defy(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   brave, disregard, slight, scorn, spurn, despise, contemn, treat with contempt, trample on, set at naught, snap the fingers at

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. defy(v)

   Synonyms:
   challenge, dare, spurn, flout, scorn

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. List of paraphrases:

   challenge, defying, flout, defies, defiant

How to pronounce defy?

Alex

US English

Daniel

British

Karen

Australian

Veena

Indian

How to say defy in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use defy in a sentence?

1. Cometan:

   I must remind, That time, Will be kind, To thine, And mine, Only if thy, Do not defy, His hand, And the sands, For distorting such, Is very much, A regrettable act, To dispatch, Upon thine pearled, Beautiful world.

2. Elijah Cummings:

   Yesterday, President Trump declared to the entire country that President Trump would obstruct Congress and order all White House officials to defy lawful subpoenas from Congress, today, the Trump Administration went even further by expanding this policy to employees at federal agencies — even when the subpoenas are bipartisan and supported by Republican Members of Congress.

3. Tony Sayegh:

   I like a lot of these programs and am willing to give them creative license, but when they try and take a legitimate political message being used in real time like ‘ make America great again ’ -- which incidentally is working -- and vilify it by connecting it to terrorism, they defy even the most generous level of objectivity.

4. Ban Ki-moon:

   I defy anyone to look into the eyes of these courageous and resilient individuals and say you know better what nuclear weapons bring.

5. Louie Gohmert:

   Theyve abused power, like [George Washington University law professor Jonathan] Turley said, it is Congress thats abusingpower, and how ironic that ... Joe Bidenwould sayif he were subpoenaed to the Congress or the Senate, he would defy it,he wouldnt do it.

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