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.

How to pronounce defy?

How to say defy in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use defy in a sentence?

1. Steven Spielberg:

   I find it very, very surprising, antisemitism has always been there, it’s either been just around the corner and slightly out of sight but always lurking, or it has been much more overt like in Germany in the ’30s. But not since Germany in the ‘30s have I witnessed antisemitism no longer lurking, but standing proud with hands on hips like Hitler and Mussolini, kind of daring us to defy it. I’ve never experienced this in my entire life, especially in this country.

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. William Barr:

   One of the ironies, as some have observed, is that the secular project has itself become a religion, pursued with religious fervor. It is taking on all the trappings of a religion – including inquisitions and excommunication. Those who defy the creed risk a figurative burning at the stake – social, educational, and professional ostracism and exclusion waged through lawsuits and savage social media campaigns.

5. Phil Robertson:

   This is a test case for whether rule of law really means anything in Thailand when the poor and powerless take on a state agency that has been negligent, if the (Pollution Control Department) can defy an order from the Supreme Administrative Court without facing severe consequences, it spreads the word that government agencies can do what they want.