defiant

[ dih-fahy-uhnt ]

adjective

1. characterized by defiance; boldly resistant or challenging:

   a defiant attitude.

   Synonyms: daring, insolent, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, contumacious, insubordinate

   Antonyms: obedient

Other Words From

• de·fi·ant·ly adverb
• de·fi·ant·ness noun
• half-de·fi·ant adjective
• non·de·fi·ant adjective
• non·de·fi·ant·ness noun
• o·ver·de·fi·ant adjective
• o·ver·de·fi·ant·ness noun
• qua·si-de·fi·ant adjective
• un·de·fi·ant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defiant¹

First recorded in 1830–40; from French défiant, Old French, present participle of defier “to challenge, defy”; defy, -ant

Example Sentences

I go back and forth between despairing and defiant.

From Salon

In legal filings, however, he was defiant, saying he “never made any comment that was even remotely offensive.”

From Los Angeles Times

Tears roll down her cheek, but she is defiant.

From BBC

The first reports emerged just before Chinese leader Xi Jinping met his Russian counterpart at the Brics summit earlier in October, overshadowing a gathering that was meant to send the West a defiant message.

From BBC

In his lawsuit, De León took a defiant stance, blasting media coverage of the scandal, which his lawyer described as “more concerned with clickbait than facts.”

From Los Angeles Times