defiant

[dih-fahy-uhnt]

adjective

1. characterized by defiance; boldly resistant or challenging.

   a defiant attitude.

   Synonyms: daring, insolent, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, contumacious, insubordinate
   Antonyms: obedient

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of defiant¹

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

Example Sentences

Slot was in defiant mood in the aftermath of another disappointment, going through his full range of brave faces while accentuating the positive in the face of evidence to the contrary.

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New Zealand captain Sophie Devine struck a defiant century of her own after coming in with her side 0-2, and briefly threatened to drag the White Ferns to a remarkable victory.

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She said an initial, “almost defiant” sense of pride, with T-shirts and property signs declaring “Altadena is not for sale,” still lingers.

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"We're not going to panic," said a defiant Bradley when confronted with data from a respected analytical website that suggested of the 132 possible foursomes pairings for the Americans, they were ranked 132nd.

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But as the fine Boston Court Pasadena production, incisively directed by Jessica Kubzansky, bears out, Williams is the humane, humorously defiant playwright we need when authoritarianism is on the march.

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