Defy
verb
To refuse to obey or follow.
She defied her parents and went to the party.
Often appears as...
- defy authority
- defy conventions
verb
To openly challenge or confront someone or something.
He defied his critics by continuing to pursue his controversial policy.
Often appears as...
- defy criticism
- defy the odds
verb
To be almost impossible to believe or explain.
The magician's tricks defied explanation.
Often appears as...
- defy explanation
- defy logic
verb
To resist or withstand something successfully.
The structure defied the earthquake and remained standing.
Often appears as...
- defy destruction
- defy gravity
verb
To refuse to obey or follow.
She defied her parents and went to the party.
Often appears as...
- defy authority
- defy conventions
verb
To openly challenge or confront someone or something.
He defied his critics by continuing to pursue his controversial policy.
Often appears as...
- defy criticism
- defy the odds
verb
To be almost impossible to believe or explain.
The magician's tricks defied explanation.
Often appears as...
- defy explanation
- defy logic
verb
To resist or withstand something successfully.
The structure defied the earthquake and remained standing.
Often appears as...
- defy destruction
- defy gravity
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Rebellious tone
Using 'defy' suggests a strong, often rebellious attitude against authority or rules.
The teenager defied the school dress code with his outrageous outfit.
Pro Tip 2/2Not passive
'Defy' implies an active choice to resist, more than just passive non-compliance.
She defied the company's policy by speaking out at the meeting.
Pro Tip 1/2Rebellious tone
Using 'defy' suggests a strong, often rebellious attitude against authority or rules.
The teenager defied the school dress code with his outrageous outfit.
Pro Tip 2/2Not passive
'Defy' implies an active choice to resist, more than just passive non-compliance.
She defied the company's policy by speaking out at the meeting.
Pro Tip 1/2Rebellious tone
Using 'defy' suggests a strong, often rebellious attitude against authority or rules.
The teenager defied the school dress code with his outrageous outfit.
Pro Tip 2/2Not passive
'Defy' implies an active choice to resist, more than just passive non-compliance.
She defied the company's policy by speaking out at the meeting.
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Video examples
On tennis, love and...
but in tennis it's very important, but he has no doubt that you're coming back. Have you thought, am I coming back? Will I take some time off? I know the women on the tour are saying, "How long does it take to have a baby? Two years will she be gone?" What are you thinking? Well, I'm always trying to defy the odds, you know, so for me everything is really mental.
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
This was far from the first time he’d defied destiny in his quest for wisdom and power. His past rebellions had earned him the power to transfigure his body, ride clouds at dizzying speeds, and govern his tribe with magic and martial arts. In this crisis, he saw yet another opportunity. With a flash of his nimble fingers,
Video examples
How to build your...
until they were basically giving the car away for free. She would never crack a smile. She would never be afraid to walk away. I know my mom just thought she was getting a good deal on a minivan, but what she was actually doing was giving me permission to defy expectations
Video examples
Kiran Bedi: How I remade...
My father defied his own grandfather, almost to the point of disinheritance, because he decided to educate all four of us. He sent us to one of the best schools in the city and gave us the best education. As I've said, when we're born, we don't choose our parents,
Video examples
Greg Long: Big Wave...
But when you reach deep within yourself, bringing your mind and body into momentary sync, with the rhythm and power of the swells, and for brief moment, seemingly defying nature, and successfully riding one of those waves. For me,
Video examples
How To Levitate PIPE The...
I'm about to try and do something that I've always dreamt of, but never thought would be possible levitate. I want to know if I can defy gravity using the power of science. Mastering levitation could transform our world,
Video examples
What is abstract...
when examined up close. And the chaos of this tangled mess seems to defy all control, but it's actually the product of a deliberate, though not pre-planned, process. These characteristics made Pollock into a celebrity,
Video examples
Making sense of complex...
find each other in space literally and form these constellations these constellations are like the new continents they defy the geography boundaries these shapes also help us see some hidden patterns which are normally
Video examples
The Insect That Freezes...
daily dose of sun to warm up your insides so reptiles and insects generally fare better in the cold when they're small some species though just can't help but defy convention
Video examples
The most mysterious star...
cannot defy the laws of physics. You see, anything that uses a lot of energy is going to produce heat, and we don't observe this. But it could be something as simple
Video examples
On tennis, love and...
but in tennis it's very important, but he has no doubt that you're coming back. Have you thought, am I coming back? Will I take some time off? I know the women on the tour are saying, "How long does it take to have a baby? Two years will she be gone?" What are you thinking? Well, I'm always trying to defy the odds, you know, so for me everything is really mental.
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
This was far from the first time he’d defied destiny in his quest for wisdom and power. His past rebellions had earned him the power to transfigure his body, ride clouds at dizzying speeds, and govern his tribe with magic and martial arts. In this crisis, he saw yet another opportunity. With a flash of his nimble fingers,
Video examples
How to build your...
until they were basically giving the car away for free. She would never crack a smile. She would never be afraid to walk away. I know my mom just thought she was getting a good deal on a minivan, but what she was actually doing was giving me permission to defy expectations
Video examples
Kiran Bedi: How I remade...
My father defied his own grandfather, almost to the point of disinheritance, because he decided to educate all four of us. He sent us to one of the best schools in the city and gave us the best education. As I've said, when we're born, we don't choose our parents,
Video examples
Greg Long: Big Wave...
But when you reach deep within yourself, bringing your mind and body into momentary sync, with the rhythm and power of the swells, and for brief moment, seemingly defying nature, and successfully riding one of those waves. For me,
Video examples
How To Levitate PIPE The...
I'm about to try and do something that I've always dreamt of, but never thought would be possible levitate. I want to know if I can defy gravity using the power of science. Mastering levitation could transform our world,
Video examples
What is abstract...
when examined up close. And the chaos of this tangled mess seems to defy all control, but it's actually the product of a deliberate, though not pre-planned, process. These characteristics made Pollock into a celebrity,
Video examples
Making sense of complex...
find each other in space literally and form these constellations these constellations are like the new continents they defy the geography boundaries these shapes also help us see some hidden patterns which are normally
Video examples
The Insect That Freezes...
daily dose of sun to warm up your insides so reptiles and insects generally fare better in the cold when they're small some species though just can't help but defy convention
Video examples
The most mysterious star...
cannot defy the laws of physics. You see, anything that uses a lot of energy is going to produce heat, and we don't observe this. But it could be something as simple
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jose Maria Aznar
Spanish Statesman
We insist that the international community cannot depend on any country with weapons of mass destruction which has relations with terrorists, and which allows itself the luxury of not respecting the law and of defying the international community.
Quote examples
Malachi Kirby
English Actor
Roots' focuses on a particular group of people who defy the odds and win, eventually, even if it isn't in their lifetimes. This is, for me, a very positive story and a very empowering one, if only we have that perspective on it.
Quote examples
George C. Wolfe
American Playwright
I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying a truth that has been accepted.
Quote examples
Jeremy Rifkin
American Economist
It may be that everything the life science companies are telling us will turn out to be right, and there's no problem here whatsoever. That defies logic.
Quote examples
Ryan Leaf
American Athlete
I defy anybody to be of service to another human being and not have the most peaceful night of sleep you've had in a long, long time.
Quote examples
Kenneth Clark
British Author
To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.
Quote examples
Scott Brown
American Politician
Rarely have elected leaders been so intent on defying the public will.
Quote examples
Tony Bellew
British Athlete
I defy anyone in the world to trade with me.
Quote examples
Wayne Messam
American Athlete
I've been defying the odds my entire life.
Quote examples
Daniel Bell
American Sociologist
But in action, one defies one's character.
Quote examples
Jose Maria Aznar
Spanish Statesman
We insist that the international community cannot depend on any country with weapons of mass destruction which has relations with terrorists, and which allows itself the luxury of not respecting the law and of defying the international community.
Quote examples
Malachi Kirby
English Actor
Roots' focuses on a particular group of people who defy the odds and win, eventually, even if it isn't in their lifetimes. This is, for me, a very positive story and a very empowering one, if only we have that perspective on it.
Quote examples
George C. Wolfe
American Playwright
I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying a truth that has been accepted.
Quote examples
Jeremy Rifkin
American Economist
It may be that everything the life science companies are telling us will turn out to be right, and there's no problem here whatsoever. That defies logic.
Quote examples
Ryan Leaf
American Athlete
I defy anybody to be of service to another human being and not have the most peaceful night of sleep you've had in a long, long time.
Quote examples
Kenneth Clark
British Author
To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.
Quote examples
Scott Brown
American Politician
Rarely have elected leaders been so intent on defying the public will.
Quote examples
Tony Bellew
British Athlete
I defy anyone in the world to trade with me.
Quote examples
Wayne Messam
American Athlete
I've been defying the odds my entire life.
Quote examples
Daniel Bell
American Sociologist
But in action, one defies one's character.
Example 1 of 10
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