defiant

American  

[dih-fahy-uhnt] / dɪˈfaɪ ənt /

adjective

1. characterized by defiance; boldly resistant or challenging.

   a defiant attitude.

   Synonyms:

   daring, insolent, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, contumacious, insubordinate

   Antonyms:

   obedient

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defiant British  

/ dɪˈfaɪənt /

adjective

1. marked by resistance or bold opposition, as to authority; challenging

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Other Word Forms

• defiantly adverb
• defiantness noun
• half-defiant adjective
• nondefiant adjective
• nondefiantness noun
• overdefiant adjective
• overdefiantness noun
• quasi-defiant adjective
• undefiant adjective

Etymology

Origin of defiant

First recorded in 1830–40; from French défiant, Old French, present participle of defier “to challenge, defy”; defy, -ant

Explanation

Have you ever seen a picture of a protester who is about to be carried off by police but is still shouting or resisting, fighting to the bitter end? That person is defiant. Someone who is defiant is bold, even in the face of defeat. A defiant person is usually fighting a powerful enemy. People who protest in countries controlled by dictators are defiant. Rosa Parks was defiant when she refused to give up her seat on the bus, even though the law at that time dictated that black people had to stand when whites needed a seat. Small children are defiant too, sometimes over nothing more than a request to share their toys.

Example Sentences

Last week Saylor was in defiant, bullish mode, posting on X that “bitcoin has won.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Most polls favour Péter Magyar, who formed a grassroots party after splitting from the ruling Fidesz party, but the night before the vote Orbán was in defiant mood.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

On Tuesday morning, Iranian leaders remained defiant ahead of the looming deadline.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

At first, owner Meghann Mitchell, who purchased a $2.5 million Sanibel Island vacation home, a $600,000 riverfront Indiana getaway and other properties as Piece by Piece’s billings soared, was defiant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Maybe it's the expression in her eyes, something at once coolly logical and fiercely defiant.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu