defiantly

adverb

de·​fi·​ant·​ly di-ˈfī-ənt-lē How to pronounce defiantly (audio)
dē-
: in a defiant manner : in a way that is full of or shows a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight
She spoke out defiantly against the proposed law.
As his empire crumbled amid the … scandal, he defiantly refused a graceful exit.Jonathan Alter
Though restrained, the women do not lack independence, and they wag their tongues as defiantly as ever.Jason Farago

Examples of defiantly in a Sentence

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.
California officials responded defiantly Friday to an order from new U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that could freeze hundreds of millions of dollars in public safety grants to sanctuary cities and states refusing to cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 8 Feb. 2025 Urinetown, a defiantly scatological show that premiered on Broadway in 2001, is about a community in the throes of a drought where, thanks to the dominion of the Urine Good Company over the water supply, citizens must pay for the privilege of peeing. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025 The restaurant is defiantly unpretentious, with a cozy, friendly atmosphere. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025 Even from prison, Mr. Navalny was the most popular opposition figure in Russia, defiantly challenging the rule of President Vladimir V. Putin, and the authorities banned his nationwide movement as extremist shortly before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Nataliya Vasilyeva, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for defiantly 

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defiantly was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near defiantly

Cite this Entry

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

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