defy

[ dih-fahy, dee- ]
See synonyms for: defydefieddefies on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),de·fied, de·fy·ing.
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  1. to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.

  2. Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest.

noun,plural de·fies.
  1. a challenge; a defiance.

Origin of defy

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

Other 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

Words Nearby defy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use defy in a sentence

  • Saying so is to make a statement so obvious as to defy the need for citation.

  • Arches more graceful in form, or better fitted to defy the assaults of time, I have never seen.

    Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley
  • If they are still Moderns and alive, I defy you to bury them if you are discussing living questions in a full and honest way.

    The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
  • He could not bear to open his dreadful situation to his Uncle David, nor to kill himself, nor to defy the vengeance of Longcluse.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • It was probably this opposition that made young Cargill decide that it would be really worth while to defy the legend.

    Uncanny Tales | Various
  • "Thirty," said the first bidder in a tone which seemed to defy further competition.

    Camille (La Dame aux Camilias) | Alexandre Dumas, fils

British Dictionary definitions for defy

defy

/ (dɪˈfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
  1. to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly

  2. to elude, esp in a baffling way: his actions defy explanation

  1. formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare: I defy you to climb that cliff

  2. archaic to invite to do battle or combat

Origin of defy

1
C14: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere

Derived 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