1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposition
the inclination to resist
the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort
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3
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel
a deeply troubled person who seemed the very soul of defiance
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of defiance
Their decision to kiss in front of the preachers was not just an act of defiance, but a message to the world.
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David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
The mugshot snapped of Trump in August 2023 after a Democratic district attorney brought unprecedented criminal charges against him in Georgia quickly became an iconic image of defiance for his supporters, for example.
—Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Christ stands with arms folded, eyes narrowed—a perfect image of sulking adolescent defiance.
—Christian K. Kleinbub, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024
And this special show certainly presented the perfect opportunity for Lipa to display her own brand of Churchillian defiance.
—Mark Sutherland, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiance 
David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
The mugshot snapped of Trump in August 2023 after a Democratic district attorney brought unprecedented criminal charges against him in Georgia quickly became an iconic image of defiance for his supporters, for example.
—Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Christ stands with arms folded, eyes narrowed—a perfect image of sulking adolescent defiance.
—Christian K. Kleinbub, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2024
And this special show certainly presented the perfect opportunity for Lipa to display her own brand of Churchillian defiance.
—Mark Sutherland, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defiance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defiance
Noun
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There are no major qualifications, but members of Congress and certain other office-holders are barred from participating, along with anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion.Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2024
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Sofia’s haircut is an early sign of her rebellion; a shaggy mullet that calls back to Jane Fonda in the 1970s thriller Klute.Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Her views on Russia, opposition to U.S. intervention in Ukraine, and a 2017 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have drawn criticism.Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
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Yet, opposition to corporate DEI may require broader and more creative strategies for bridging this skills gap.Corinne Post, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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So perhaps the podcast was both: an act of love and an act of aggression.Lili Anolik, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
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Common symptoms of a rapid squirrel include walking in circles, falling over, drooling, aggression, and seizures and muscle spasms, Critter Control reports.Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The proposal will likely encounter fierce resistance from big pharma and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 26 Nov. 2024
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The extended air raid alarm in Kyiv lasted over seven hours, underscoring the toll on civilians as Russia continues its efforts to erode Ukrainian resistance.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Noun
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That expansion came over the objection of the court's chief justice at the time.Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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That immediately elicited objections from the South Arkansas Minerals Association, which also objected to the December application, and dozens of other mineral rights owners.Ainsley Platt, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Did the hostility between Administration and newspaper come back to haunt Nixon?John Tamny, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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All Greeks were guaranteed safe passage traveling to or from the contests (though the popular idea that all inter-state hostilities ceased may be a myth).Miriam Kamil, JSTOR Daily, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The problem isn’t just the vehicle, but the fundamental disrespect.Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
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Experiencing disrespect, being overlooked, and feeling undervalued.Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The disobedience that led to Braun’s removal from that gym might’ve been a trait that needed maturation, but the underlying swagger and cockiness are essential to what his current coach, Michael Malone, wants from him.Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2024
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Whistle-blowing, by contrast, is closer to deliberate disobedience on the battlefield.Michael Walzer, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
Thesaurus Entries Near defiance
Cite this Entry
“Defiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defiance. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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