defy

[ dih-fahy, dee- ]

verb (used with object)

, de·fied, de·fy·ing.

1. to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly:

   Love drives the characters to ignore their family feud and defy parental authority.

   The artist defies conventional categories by blending very different styles in her work.

   Synonyms: scorn, flout, brave, dare

2. to offer effective resistance to; make virtually impossible:

   Their strategic position is helped by having a fort that defies attack.

   The facts were so complex that they defied simple explanation.

3. to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible:

   They defied him to dive off the bridge.

4. Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest.

noun

, plural de·fies.

1. a challenge; a defiance.

defy

/ dɪˈfaɪ /

verb

1. to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
2. to elude, esp in a baffling way

   his actions defy explanation

3. formal.
   to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare

   I defy you to climb that cliff

4. archaic.
   to invite to do battle or combat

Derived Forms

• deˈfier, noun

Other Words From

• de·fi·a·ble adjective
• de·fy·ing·ly adverb
• pre·de·fy verb (used with object) predefied predefying
• re·de·fy verb (used with object) redefied redefying
• un·de·fi·a·ble adjective
• un·de·fi·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of defy¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle English defien, Old French desfier, from des- dis- ¹ + fier “to trust” (from Vulgar Latin fīdāre (unrecorded), from Latin fīdere; fidelity ( def ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of defy¹

C14: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere

Example Sentences

But like nature, “Noon to Midnight” defied categorization.

From Los Angeles Times

They must carefully guard and exercise what he called “the constitutional rights“ of the institutions where their members serve, even if it means defying the wishes of a president from their party.

From Salon

A woman who defied the odds by walking again after a car accident is urging others to wear their seat belt.

From BBC

Trump is known for defying tradition and going against the grain, but the recent appointments suggest a larger agenda, some political observers say.

From Los Angeles Times

Those senators are likely to be familiar with how defying Trump worked out for Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who is now on his way to retirement.

From Salon

Related Words

• confront
• disregard
• elude
• flout
• ignore
• mock
• oppose
• provoke
• resist
• ridicule
• spurn
• thwart
• violate
• withstand