as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiant
Greg Vanney was in a defiant mood after the LA Galaxy’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Union on May 14.
—
Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Compared with his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, Lai has taken a stronger and more defiant stance in the face of growing Chinese threats to the island, as evident in his rhetoric and new policy measures.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
Post match, the 17-year-old was in a typically defiant mood.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Compared with his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, Lai has taken a stronger and more defiant stance in the face of growing Chinese threats to the island, as evident in his rhetoric and new policy measures.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
Post match, the 17-year-old was in a typically defiant mood.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defiant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiant
Adjective
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Inspired by 1953’s The Wild One starring Marlon Brando, the song and video captures the rebellious spirit of the cult classic, with scenes of a motorcycle being driven on an open road and birds in flight.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2025
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Many historians estimate that at least 15 to 20 percent of the population remained loyal to the crown, some even taking up arms against their rebellious neighbors and fighting alongside the British.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Here romantic passion combines with revolution in a historical fiction sure to light up readers’ rebel hearts.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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Then, the detainees were executed, dressed in rebel uniforms, and reported as combat kills with many buried in anonymous graves in cemeteries.—
John Otis,
NPR,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Still, the stubborn media silence continued unabated.—
Nate Rogers,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
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United needed to play perfect football to unlock a stubborn defence, but struggled to push past competency.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defiant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiant. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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