defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s 
dē-
Phrases
in defiance of
: contrary to : despite
seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics
He returned to the pulpit May 22 in defiance of an order by church leaders banning him from television preaching for one year.—
Daniel E. Kubiske
Daniel E. KubiskeSynonyms
Examples of defiance in a Sentence
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Recent Examples on the Web
The federal government has claimed sole jurisdiction to enforce immigration laws, so the enforcement provisions in Proposition 314 are in open defiance of the federal government.
—Rafael Carranza, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Although security forces violently ended the protests, since Amini’s death Iranian women and girls have at times removed their headscarves in public in defiance, and others around the world have joined in solidarity.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
In defiance, each Sunday, a group of faculty members, students, and community members gather on campus for candlelight vigils that extend past the 11 p.m. deadline.
—Annie Ma, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2024
The dissenters—who were ordered to leave Hanover within three days—became known as the Göttingen Seven, and their act of defiance was later enshrined in German history as a banner moment in the nation’s path to democracy.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
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Rafael Carranza, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Although security forces violently ended the protests, since Amini’s death Iranian women and girls have at times removed their headscarves in public in defiance, and others around the world have joined in solidarity.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
In defiance, each Sunday, a group of faculty members, students, and community members gather on campus for candlelight vigils that extend past the 11 p.m. deadline.
—Annie Ma, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2024
The dissenters—who were ordered to leave Hanover within three days—became known as the Göttingen Seven, and their act of defiance was later enshrined in German history as a banner moment in the nation’s path to democracy.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiance
Dictionary Entries Near defiance
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiance. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defiance
noun
de·fi·ance
di-ˈfī-ən(t)s
1
: the act or an instance of defying : challenge
2
: a tendency to resist : contempt of opposition
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