defied

American

[dih-fahyd] / dɪˈfaɪd /

adjective

challenged or resisted boldly or openly; rebelled against.

Both novels end with a degree of reconciliation and acceptance between the defied parent and the wayward child.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of defy.

Other Word Forms

undefied adjective

Etymology

Origin of defied

First recorded in 1810–20; defy ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; defy ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

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.

There has been frequent private speculation about the state of Biya's health, but openly discussing it is taboo and he has always defied rumours of his death by appearing in public after long absences.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

U.S. job growth blew past expectations last month, a resilient rebound that defied concerns about a pending downturn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Another tech name defied a broader artificial intelligence slump– Qnity Electronics.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

The cynical maneuver so disgusted Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a maverick Democrat from rural Washington state, that she defied party leaders and introduced a resolution rebuking Garcia.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Third, and finally, Adams derived deep personal satisfaction from singular acts of principle that defied the agendas of both political parties.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023