Defiance
1 Americannoun
noun
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a daring or bold resistance to authority or to any opposing force.
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open disregard; contempt (often followed byof ).
defiance of danger; His refusal amounted to defiance.
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a challenge to meet in combat or in a contest.
idioms
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bid defiance to, to offer resistance; defy.
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in defiance of, in spite of; notwithstanding.
There was a splendid audience in defiance of the rainstorm.
noun
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open or bold resistance to or disregard for authority, opposition, or power
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a challenging attitude or behaviour; challenge
Other Word Forms
- nondefiance noun
- predefiance noun
Etymology
Origin of defiance
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to defy + -ance
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
US officials said the ship - named Aquila II - was operating in defiance of a US "quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean".
From BBC
Alongside this defiance, Iran has signalled it could come to some kind of deal to dial back its nuclear programme to avoid further conflict with Washington.
From Barron's
The shows of defiance—sometimes loud and risky, other times quiet and personal—come as Iranians reckon with the full extent of January’s violence and the government that ordered it.
Ravens circle overhead, croaking at my presence in defiance.
From Los Angeles Times
Judges also have taken offense at the administration’s repeated defiance of their orders.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
