defied

past tense of defy
1
2
as in dared
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of defied Throughout his career, Murphy has defied easy categorization. Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024 The fresh jobs data defied any such worries by presenting a rosy picture of the economy in which employers are hiring at a strong pace, a large share of people are staying on the job and wages are rising at a fast rate, analysts said. Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2024 Last year, her eponymous label tied up with South Korean cult brand Gentle Monster on cool sunglasses flanked by a campaign portraying a bizarre wedding where models defied gravity with heads on the ground and feet up in the air. Sandra Salibian, WWD, 3 Oct. 2024 This book is about twelve individuals who defied the facts of their times—people like Isadora Duncan, Cagliostro, the Prophet Muhammad. The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2024 The show defied genres, blending re-enactments of real emergency room cases with commentary from the doctors and nurses who were actually there. Spenser Mestel, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Oct. 2024 The goal of our list is to highlight trailblazing women who have defied the odds — about 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and female founders draw less than 2% of venture capital dollars. Julia Boorstin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defied
Verb
  • Even local state news dared to criticize Putin’s response.
    Peter Pomerantsev, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024
  • By contrast, 20 years ago, only about 5% of Americans dared to rely entirely on cellphones.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Arthur, led from his cell by a guard who wanders off, is confronted by another inmate who proceeds to tell him a joke.
    Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
  • With this new evidence, detectives confronted the parent, but the parent continued to deny any involvement or knowledge about the case.
    Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • This is likely why Samsung has resisted making a wider Galaxy Fold for six straight iterations.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
  • Many conservatives and law enforcement leaders have said the measure will deter crime, while progressives and left-leaning Democrats have resisted it, arguing that altering Proposition 47 will only put more Californians behind bars.
    Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Speaking of genres that the Academy has been undervaluing in top categories, there’s Latin music… and if last year wasn’t a chance for those sounds to get into the big four, this one won’t likely be either, with a less obvious crop of contenders than got ignored last time around.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Judy Randall, the nonpartisan head of Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor, said that multiple state agencies under the Walz administration have repeatedly downplayed and ignored looming oversight failures, according to a CNN report.
    Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • As the job market and our workplace rapidly evolve, driven by technological advancement, employees are challenged significantly by a shift in roles and responsibilities.
    Santhosh Vijayabaskar, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • The rule was initially set to go into effect in 2026, but has been delayed indefinitely as it is challenged in court.
    Jon McGowan, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Continue reading … ‘LOADED GUN IN MY FACE’ – Garth Brooks has faced a list of controversies over the years.
    Fox News, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2024
  • In my experience working with emerging market business leaders, these are the best responses to the challenges faced this decade.
    Radu Magdin, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Several Democratic lawmakers and groups like the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the measure largely because of how it is funded by the new fee tied to criminal convictions.
    Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024
  • The board was shuffled to be more Altman-friendly and several directors who opposed him were forced out.
    Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near defied

Cite this Entry

“Defied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defied. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on defied

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!