defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt How to pronounce defiant (audio)
dē-
Synonyms of defiantnext
: full of or showing a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight : full of or showing defiance : bold, impudent
defiant rebels
a defiant refusal
Mantor struck a defiant pose, his chin out, and rocked for a moment on the heels of his boots.—Christopher Ketcham

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of defiant in a Sentence

He's taken a defiant stand on the issue. the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
Recent Examples on the Web Hundreds of defiant employees — some notified of their termination last week and others before that — stormed their workplaces in Buenos Aires and nearby cities on Wednesday, beating drums, decrying their dismissal as unjust and demanding their reinstatement. —Isabel Debre, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024 The other teen is Vanesa (Mia Mustafa), the dictionary definition of a defiant juvenile delinquent. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defiant 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defiant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

in part borrowed from French défiant "mistrustful," from present participle of défier "to mistrust, challenge, defy entry 1," going back to Old French; in part from defi(ance) + -ant entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defiant was in 1583

Phrases Containing defiant

Dictionary Entries Near defiant

defiance

defiant

defiantly

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defiant. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

defiant

adjective
de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt How to pronounce defiant (audio)
: full of or showing defiance : impudent, insolent
defiantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on defiant

Nglish: Translation of defiant for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of defiant for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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