defy
to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: Love drives the characters to ignore their family feud and defy parental authority.The artist defies conventional categories by blending very different styles in her work.
to offer effective resistance to; make virtually impossible: Their strategic position is helped by having a fort that defies attack.The facts were so complex that they defied simple explanation.
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.
Origin of defy
1Other words for defy
Other words from defy
- de·fi·a·ble, adjective
- de·fy·ing·ly, adverb
- pre·de·fy, verb (used with object), pre·de·fied, pre·de·fy·ing.
- re·de·fy, verb (used with object), re·de·fied, re·de·fy·ing.
- un·de·fi·a·ble, adjective
- un·de·fi·a·bly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for defy
/ (dɪˈfaɪ) /
to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
to elude, esp in a baffling way: his actions defy explanation
formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare: I defy you to climb that cliff
archaic to invite to do battle or combat
Origin of defy
1Derived forms of defy
- defier, noun
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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