1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposition
the inclination to resist
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a deeply troubled person who seemed the very soul of defiance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiance
Meanwhile, Democrats sat in silent defiance of everything that makes America great.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
The plaza quickly became a symbol of defiance against the Trump administration.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
But amid the palpable anger, there was also joy: the kind often born in the sense of community that comes from collective defiance.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Atul Gawande, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, wrote on X that 5,800 USAID contracts have been terminated in defiance of the courts.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
The plaza quickly became a symbol of defiance against the Trump administration.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
But amid the palpable anger, there was also joy: the kind often born in the sense of community that comes from collective defiance.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Atul Gawande, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, wrote on X that 5,800 USAID contracts have been terminated in defiance of the courts.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
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Wouldn't that seed resentment and the beginnings of the exact rebellion that takes place?—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
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As Frederick Douglass noted in a June 1854 newspaper editorial, however, many Americans praised Henry’s phrase and the violent rebellion against British oppression while simultaneously decrying violent resistance to slavery.—
Cassandra Good,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Trump is stoking that populist stance to root out ideological opposition to his agenda and undercut public employee unions, a key base of political support for Democrats, Kettl said.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
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Its most notable member is France’s National Rally, a once-marginal party that is now the main opposition force in the EU’s second-largest economy.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Gandhi’s strategy of collective and collaborative unity, rather than aggression, effectively dismantled British dominance.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Russia was expelled from the G8, sanctioned by the West and ostracized on the global stage because of its aggression against Ukraine.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Energy Transfer, the operator of the Dakota Access Pipeline, accused Greenpeace USA and International of playing a central role in organizing the resistance to the pipeline at Standing Rock in 2016 and 2017.—
Simmone Shah,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
-
As Frederick Douglass noted in a June 1854 newspaper editorial, however, many Americans praised Henry’s phrase and the violent rebellion against British oppression while simultaneously decrying violent resistance to slavery.—
Cassandra Good,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Schumer has received backlash since helping to avert a government shutdown by aiding the Republicans in passing their stopgap spending plan over the objection of the majority of his fellow Democratic Senators and House Democrats.—
Rebecca Schneid,
TIME,
23 Mar. 2025
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Home demolished During winter break at the University of Idaho, a demolition began of the home where the murders took place, over the objections of some of the victims' family members.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Intentionally directing attacks against civilian infrastructure and civilians who are not directly taking part in hostilities is considered a war crime under international law.—
Clarissa Ward,
CNN,
18 Mar. 2025
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Even small shifts can build rapport and defuse hostility.—
Diana Lowe,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The disrespect of Shedeur Sanders has reached absurd levels.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2025
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My concerns have only doubled since the hearing, at which two academics from the University of Connecticut’s Puerto Rican Studies Initiative for Civic Engagement and Public Policy were treated with suspicion and sidelong disrespect by certain legislators.—
Julio Fuentes,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Alleging disobedience, among other claimed doctrinal infractions, the OCA excommunicated the Homyks and longtime parish council leader Rivera.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2025
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Pardons have sometimes been used in the past — in some cases wisely, in others not — to turn the page on divisive episodes of civil disorder and disobedience.—
The Editors,
National Review,
22 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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