defiance

[dih-fahy-uhns] / dɪˈfaɪ əns /

NOUN

disobedience, disregard

Synonyms

STRONGEST

confrontation contempt opposition provocation rebellion spite

STRONG

affront audacity boldness bravado brazenness call cartel challenge command contrariness contumacy dare effrontery gas guts impudence insolence insubordination insurgence insurgency intractableness lip muster order perversity rebelliousness recalcitrance revolt sass stump summons temerity unruliness

WEAK

back talk big talk defy enjoinder factiousness hot air impugnment throwing of the gauntlet

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm harmony love peace

STRONG

answer care caution cowardice fear humility modesty timidity

WEAK

acquiescence obedience regard respect submission subordination

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Instead of taking a stance of trollish defiance, they condemned the president.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

"I'm still here," he says towards the end, with a shrug that lands somewhere between defiance and a punchline, "and I am going to do whatever I want".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

To this day, she still carries that same quiet defiance, reminding me that even when the physical path back is blocked, the convictions we inherit are ours to keep.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

He doesn’t respond to his various wake-up calls with stubborn defiance but a curiosity that shifts his moping into something akin to a geeky, fun-loving second adolescence.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

It made his green apprentice armband stand out and gave him a silent air of defiance.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Vocabulary lists containing defiance

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

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The Outsiders

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Walk Two Moons

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