Synonyms for defy
dɪˈfaɪ; ˈdi faɪde·fy

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.5 / 4 votes

1. defy

   Synonyms:
   scorn, challenge, provoke, despite, brave

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defy, withstand, hold, hold upverb

   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, refuseverb

   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, dareverb

   challenge

   "I dare you!"

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

   Antonyms:
   lend oneself, apply

Matched Categories

1. • Challenge

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. defyverb

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

2. defyverb

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

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defyverb

   Synonyms:
   challenge, dare, spurn, flout, scorn

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "defy":

   challenge, defying, flout, defies, defiant

Suggested Resources

1. DEFY

   What does DEFY stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the DEFY acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

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How to use defy in a sentence?

1. Proverb:

   Feed sparingly and defy the physician.

2. Jeanne-Marie Roland:

   The feeble tremble before opinion, the foolish defy it, the wise judge it, the skillful direct it.

3. Attorney General Bill Barr:

   Most of the governors do what bureaucrats always do, which is they... defy common sense, they treat free citizens as babies that can't take responsibility for themselves and others.

4. Robbie Collin:

   It's the most exciting press conference I have been at, I think. Cannes isn't known for its revelatory press conferences but that felt like a weird cinematic event in itself, what remains fascinating about Godard and his work, is that is he is the only director in competition so far, possibly the only one in the entire festival, whose films defy being chewed over in the course of a tweet or a thread of tweets.

5. Sean Kirkpatrick:

   In our research, AARO has found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology or objects that defy the known laws of physics.