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”; see 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

Iran’s government, after all, has endured waves of devastating attacks by U.S. and Israeli military forces but remains defiant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Griffin even made for himself an industry town called Frostproof—a canny, if defiant, advertising play, named years prior, after the town had survived the mythic 1895 freeze without much issue.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Swalwell has remained defiant and threatened to sue some of those making the accusations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Some defiant spark, the same rebellious spirit he has now.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu