defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt How to pronounce defiant (audio)
dē-
: full of or showing a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight : full of or showing defiance : bold, impudent
defiant rebels
a defiant refusal
Mantor struck a defiant pose, his chin out, and rocked for a moment on the heels of his boots.Christopher Ketcham

Examples of defiant in a Sentence

He's taken a defiant stand on the issue. the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But rather the simple act of playing pretend, which, when done in a maximum security prison facility and by men of color specifically, can be a defiant, life-affirming and rehabilitating act in itself. Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025 However, just as much as her lyrics speak to the heart, her fashion choices serve as an extension of the same values: freedom, self-empowerment, and a defiant celebration of Blackness. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 3 Feb. 2025 These artists bum-rushed the entire industry — from blazing defiant lyrics to becoming record mogul millionaires in corporate boardrooms; baggy jeans, baseball caps, leather sneakers and hoodies became a billion-dollar market. Ronald E. Scott, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025 It can be read as either a defiant declaration or a bitter lament. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for defiant 

Word History

Etymology

in part borrowed from French défiant "mistrustful," from present participle of défier "to mistrust, challenge, defy entry 1," going back to Old French; in part from defi(ance) + -ant entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defiant was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near defiant

Cite this Entry

“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiant. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

defiant

adjective
de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt How to pronounce defiant (audio)
: full of or showing defiance : impudent, insolent
defiantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on defiant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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