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defiant

/dɪˈfaɪɪnt/

/dɪˈfaɪɛnt/

Have you ever seen a picture of a protester who is about to be carried off by police but is still shouting or resisting, fighting to the bitter end? That person is defiant.

Someone who is defiant is bold, even in the face of defeat. A defiant person is usually fighting a powerful enemy. People who protest in countries controlled by dictators are defiant. Rosa Parks was defiant when she refused to give up her seat on the bus, even though the law at that time dictated that black people had to stand when whites needed a seat. Small children are defiant too, sometimes over nothing more than a request to share their toys.

Definitions of defiant
  1. adjective
    boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
    “brought up to be aggressive and defiant
    “a defiant attitude”
    synonyms: noncompliant
    insubordinate, resistant, resistive, rogue
    disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority
    obstreperous
    noisily and stubbornly defiant
    recalcitrant
    marked by stubborn resistance to authority
    difficult, unmanageable
    hard to control
    disobedient
    not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority
    insubordinate
    not submissive to authority
    intractable
    not tractable; difficult to manage or mold
    unwilling
    not disposed or inclined toward
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    compliant
    disposed or willing to comply
    amenable, conformable
    disposed or willing to comply
    lamblike
    like a lamb in meekness and gentleness
    nonresistant
    offering no resistance
    manageable
    capable of being managed or controlled
    obedient
    dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority
    manipulable, tractable
    easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
    willing
    disposed or inclined toward
    show more antonyms...
Pronunciation
US

/dɪˈfaɪɪnt/

UK

/dɪˈfaɪɛnt/

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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘defiant'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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