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defy

[ verb dih-fahy; noun dih-fahy, dee-fahy ]
/ verb dɪˈfaɪ; noun dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi faɪ /
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See synonyms for: defy / defied / defies on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), de·fied, de·fy·ing.
to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority.
to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack.
to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.
Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest.
noun, plural de·fies.
a challenge; a defiance.
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Origin of defy

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle English defien, Old French desfier, equivalent to des- dis-1 + fier “to trust,” from Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, variant of Latin fīdere; cf. fidelity

OTHER WORDS FROM defy

Words nearby defy

defunctive, defund, defuse, defusion, defuze, defy, deg., dégagé, degame, Deganawidah, degas
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to defy

confront, disregard, elude, flout, ignore, mock, oppose, provoke, resist, ridicule, spurn, thwart, violate, withstand, baffle, beard, brave, contemn, dare, defeat

How to use defy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defy

defy
/ (dɪˈfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
to elude, esp in a baffling wayhis actions defy explanation
formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dareI defy you to climb that cliff
archaic to invite to do battle or combat

Derived forms of defy

defier, noun

Word Origin for defy

C14: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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