Nearby Words

defiant

[dih-fahy-uhnt] Example Sentences Origin

de·fi·ant

[dih-fahy-uhnt]
adjective
characterized by defiance; boldly resistant or challenging: a defiant attitude.

Origin:
1830–40; < French défiant, Old French, present participle of defier to defy; see -ant

de·fi·ant·ly, adverb
de·fi·ant·ness, noun
half-de·fi·ant, adjective
half-de·fi·ant·ly, adverb
non·de·fi·ant, adjective
EXPAND
non·de·fi·ant·ly, adverb
non·de·fi·ant·ness, noun
o·ver·de·fi·ant, adjective
o·ver·de·fi·ant·ly, adverb
o·ver·de·fi·ant·ness, noun
qua·si-de·fi·ant, adjective
qua·si-de·fi·ant·ly, adverb
un·de·fi·ant, adjective
un·de·fi·ant·ly, adverb
COLLAPSE


insubordinate, contumacious, refractory, recalcitrant, rebellious, insolent; daring.


obedient.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Defiant is a GRE word you need to know.
So is deceit. Does it mean:
to remove magnetic attraction from something
concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading
Example Sentences
  • He sounds by turns defiant and wounded as he recounts the events leading to this pivotal juncture.
  • But it's not just defiant acts that can get you tossed into a foreign jail.
  • In the next few minutes, he appeared at various times deflated, defiant and disconcerted.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
defiant (dɪˈfaɪənt)
 
adj
marked by resistance or bold opposition, as to authority; challenging
 
defiantly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

defiant
1837, from Fr. défiant, from O.Fr. desfiant, prp. of desfier (see defy). Related: Defiantly (1859).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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