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

As Axios put it Thursday: “President-elect Trump is daring Senate Republicans to defy him.”

From Salon

It is possible that the Republican-led Senate holds confirmation hearings and decides, at the end, to defy their president and reject his pick to take on the “Deep State” and his many “enemies from within.”

From Salon

Many Iranians on social media questioned the claim and portrayed her actions as part of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement that has seen many women publicly defy the laws requiring them to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothing.

From BBC

Politics aside, I defy you to find another group of people who went through this amazing thing together, who love each other and stay in touch as much as we do.

From Los Angeles Times

However, several Commonwealth leaders - particularly those from Caribbean countries - are expected to defy the UK and hold discussions on how they can secure reparatory justice.

From BBC

Related Words

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