Synonyms

defied

American

[dih-fahyd] / dɪˈfaɪd /

adjective

challenged or resisted boldly or openly; rebelled against.

Both novels end with a degree of reconciliation and acceptance between the defied parent and the wayward child.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of defy.

Other Word Forms

undefied adjective

Etymology

Origin of defied

First recorded in 1810–20; defy ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; defy ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It’s like being in solitary confinement,” said Robert Hilton, a retired teacher who evacuated in January but returned when he found that his house had defied the odds.

From Los Angeles Times

Judge Andrew Menary KC said the former Royal Marine, who stared straight ahead with no expression as he was sentenced, had generated "fear and panic" and his "disregard for human life defied ordinary understanding".

From BBC

In fact, the marketing department responsible for selling the movie pulled the trailer, Reiner once recalled, because audiences had no clue what to make of this film that so completely defied genre.

From The Wall Street Journal

China’s economic growth has defied expectations this year, but expansion has been driven in large part by strong exports, while other pockets of the economy, such as investment and the property market, have struggled.

From The Wall Street Journal

The operation to remove the cyst and deliver a healthy baby defied long odds — requiring 30 medical experts — but was a stunning success.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023