defier

[ dih-fahy-er ]

noun

1. a person who defies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of defier¹

First recorded in 1575–85; defy + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Now, a pair of books, one recently published, one forthcoming, tell how the superstar became not only an apologist for the American military but also a serial defier of journalism’s mores.

From New York Times

In 1992, on the eve of the Barcelona Olympics, the world’s greatest basketball player met track and field’s greatest gravity defier.

From The Guardian

Nguyen’s premiere is “Revenge Song: A Vampire Cowboys Creation,” centering on Julie d’Aubigny — deft fighter, expert fencer, renowned opera singer and noted defier of gender roles before her death in 1707.

From Los Angeles Times

It could be that his image as a dealmaking, jobs-creating, civil rights-protecting defier of Trump will be enough to get him a serious look in other states.

From Washington Post

Mostly, though, he was a defier of the conventional ways of categorizing people in terms of race, color, creed and political beliefs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contender