as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
Chad Mizelle, Bondi's chief of staff, pushed back against the defiant prosecutors in a statement Friday afternoon contending Adams' prosecution was politically motivated.
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Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2025
Political strategists speculated that Trump’s defiant look in the mug shot was strategically used to energize MAGA.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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Luna will meet with rebellious Uranus in a surprising trine, bringing a jolt of excitement and unexpected revelations to your love life.—
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The wildly rebellious press across Europe are a vibrant sign of its free speech.—
Adjective
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The shocking defeat of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham prompted a groundswell of domestic and international optimism.—
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Nearly 3,000 people were killed over the past week in fighting between a rebel group and Congolese armed forces, the U.N. estimated.—
Adjective
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Still facing a stubborn staffing crunch, the New York City Department of Correction will require officers to work mandatory 12-hour tours in a number of city jails, a move immediately criticized by their union.—
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The financial outlook from nation’s largest retailer, which has thrived amid stubborn inflation, delivered a jolt across the retail sector.—
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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