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/dɪˈfaɪ/
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Open resistance to authority extends into withstanding powerful forces, exceeding ordinary explanation, and issuing a challenge thought impossible to meet.
Examples I defy any visitor to leave the shop empty-handed.
The material defies heat better than ordinary plastic.
Their small business defied the economic downturn.
They defied us to finish the course before sunset.
Her performance defies easy classification.
Similar words elude
oppose
resist
survive
flout
overcome
challenge
exceed
baffle
outlast
Meanings Examples Hundreds of residents defied the evacuation order.
She openly defies anyone who tries to silence her.
The company defied convention by publishing its research freely.
He was prepared to defy his own party on the vote.
The protesters continued to defy the ban on public gatherings.
By refusing the order, the officer defied his commander.
Few students would dare to defy that teacher.
Similar words disobey
resist
challenge
oppose
disregard
flout
Examples The premature baby defied the odds and survived.
This ancient bridge has defied centuries of harsh weather.
The fire defied every attempt to contain it.
Her quick recovery defied the doctors' predictions.
The material defies heat better than ordinary plastic.
At eighty, he seems to defy age.
Their small business defied the economic downturn.
Similar words withstand
resist
survive
overcome
outlast
baffle
Examples The scale of the destruction defies description.
His decision to leave without warning defies explanation.
The beauty of the night sky defied words.
Her performance defies easy classification.
The speed of the transformation defied belief.
The puzzle has defied analysis for decades.
What happened next defies logic.
Similar words baffle
elude
transcend
exceed
resist
Examples I defy anyone to watch the ending without crying.
She defied him to produce a single piece of evidence.
I defy you to name a better solution.
The chef defies anyone to tell the difference.
He defied his critics to repeat the accusation in public.
I defy any visitor to leave the shop empty-handed.
They defied us to finish the course before sunset.
Etymology From Middle English defien , borrowed from Anglo-French defier or desfier , originally carrying the ideas of breaking faith and issuing a challenge.
FAQ To defy can mean to disobey openly, withstand a force or expectation, elude explanation, or challenge someone to do something difficult.
What does defy the odds mean?
To defy the odds is to succeed or survive when the expected outcome was failure.
What does defy description mean?
If something defies description , it is so unusual or extreme that words cannot adequately express it.
How is defy used with a person?
The pattern defy someone to do something presents a challenge that the speaker believes will be very hard or impossible to meet.
What are the forms of defy ?
The third-person form is defies , the past and past participle are defied , and the present participle is defying .
Current general use treats defy as a verb. The related modern noun is defiance , although historical dictionaries record an obsolete noun defy .
What are synonyms for defy ?
Depending on the sense, synonyms include disobey , resist , withstand , challenge , and dare .
Defy is pronounced /dɪˈfaɪ/.
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