Defying — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /di-ˈfī/ de·fy

Meaning & Definition of Defying

Defying (verb)

  1. to confront with assured power of resistance, disregard
  2. to resist attempts at, withstand
  3. to challenge to do something considered impossible, dare

Defying (adjective)

  1. very dangerous

Defying (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of

    "in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day"

    similar: disobeying, mocking, rebelling (against)
    related: disobliging, mutinying (against), revolting (against), disregarding, ignoring, overlooking, overpassing, passing over, tuning out, brushing (off), dismissing, flouting, pooh-poohing, rejecting, scoffing (at), scorning, shrugging off, winking (at), breaching, breaking, infringing, transgressing, violating, bucking, combating, contesting, disputing, fighting, opposing, resisting, withstanding
    opposite: complying (with), conforming (to), following, minding, obeying
    near: capitulating (to), conceding (to), deferring (to), goose-stepping (to), serving, stooping (to), submitting (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to), cooperating (with), keeping, observing, acceding (to), acquiescing (to), agreeing (to), assenting (to), obliging, attending, hearing, heeding, listening (to), marking, noticing, noting, regarding, watching

  2. to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat

    "after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better"

    similar: challenging, daring, stumping
    related: bearding, braving, brazening, breasting, confronting, facing, outbraving, outfacing

  3. to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage

    "a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm"

    similar: bearding, braving, brazening, breasting, confronting, daring, facing, outbraving, outfacing, standing up to
    related: facing up (to), fronting, affronting, challenging, encountering, meeting, accosting, approaching, cornering, repelling, resisting, standing, withstanding, battling, combating, contending (with), fighting, opposing, squaring (off)
    opposite: dodging, ducking, funking, shirking, sidestepping
    near: avoiding, eschewing, shunning, eluding, escaping, evading, shaking

  4. to refuse to give in to

    "a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races"

    similar: bucking, fighting, opposing, repelling, resisting, withstanding
    related: battling, combating, contending (with), challenging, contesting, contradicting, disputing, baffling, balking, foiling, frustrating, thwarting, checking, countering, hindering, obstructing, stemming
    opposite: bowing (to), capitulating (to), giving in (to), knuckling under (to), stooping (to), submitting (to), succumbing (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to)

Related Entry: Defy (verb)

Defy is a different word from Defying. The synonyms below are for defy, not for defying.

  1. to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of

    "in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day"

    similar: disobey, mock, rebel (against)
    related: disoblige, mutiny (against), revolt (against), disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, brush (off), dismiss, flout, pooh-pooh, reject, scoff (at), scorn, shrug off, wink (at), breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate, buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand
    opposite: comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey
    near: capitulate (to), concede (to), defer (to), goose-step (to), serve, stoop (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), cooperate (with), keep, observe, accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), oblige, attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch

  2. to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat

    "after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better"

    similar: challenge, dare, stump
    related: beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, face, outbrave, outface

  3. to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage

    "a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm"

    similar: beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, face, outbrave, outface, stand up to
    related: face up (to), front, affront, challenge, encounter, meet, accost, approach, corner, repel, resist, stand, withstand, battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)
    opposite: dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep
    near: avoid, eschew, shun, elude, escape, evade, shake

  4. to refuse to give in to

    "a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races"

    similar: buck, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand
    related: battle, combat, contend (with), challenge, contest, contradict, dispute, baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart, check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stem
    opposite: bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Defying

The most common words with a similar meaning to Defying:

disobeying, mocking, rebelling (against), challenging, daring, stumping, bearding, braving, brazening, breasting, confronting, facing, outbraving, outfacing, bucking, fighting, opposing, repelling, resisting, withstanding, standing up to

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Defying

Words with the opposite meaning of Defying:

complying (with), conforming (to), following, minding, obeying, dodging, ducking, funking, shirking, sidestepping, bowing (to), capitulating (to), giving in (to), knuckling under (to), stooping (to), submitting (to), succumbing (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to)

Related Words for Defying

disobliging, mutinying (against), revolting (against), disregarding, ignoring, overlooking, overpassing, passing over, tuning out, brushing (off), dismissing, flouting, pooh-poohing, rejecting, scoffing (at), scorning, shrugging off, winking (at), breaching, breaking, infringing, transgressing, violating, combating, contesting, disputing, facing up (to), fronting, affronting, encountering

Near Antonyms of Defying

conceding (to), deferring (to), goose-stepping (to), serving, cooperating (with), keeping, observing, acceding (to), acquiescing (to), agreeing (to), assenting (to), obliging, attending, hearing, heeding, listening (to), marking, noticing, noting, regarding, watching, avoiding, eschewing, shunning, eluding, escaping, evading, shaking

Word Forms of Defying

Inflections: defied

Origin & Etymology of Defying

Middle English defien "to renounce, disavow, scorn, challenge to fight," borrowed from Anglo-French defier, desfier, from de-, des- de- + fier "to pledge, trust in, rely on," going back to Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, re-formation of Latin fīdere "to trust (in), have confidence (in)" faith:1

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Defying

death-defying

Frequently Asked Questions about Defying

What does "Defying" mean?

"Defying" means to confront with assured power of resistance, disregard. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to confront with assured power of resistance, disregard. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Defying"?

Other words for "Defying" include disobeying, mocking, rebelling (against), challenging, daring, stumping, bearding and braving. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Defying" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Defying"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Defying". Common alternatives include disobeying, mocking, rebelling (against), challenging, daring, stumping, bearding, braving, brazening and breasting.

What is the opposite of "Defying"?

Antonyms of "Defying" include complying (with), conforming (to), following, minding, obeying, dodging, ducking and funking. Near antonyms include conceding (to), deferring (to), goose-stepping (to) and serving.

How do you use "Defying" in a sentence?

Examples of "Defying" in a sentence: "in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day"; "after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better"; "a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm".

Is "Defying" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Defying" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Defying"?

"Defying" is pronounced /di-ˈfī/ and divided into syllables as de·fy.

What is the origin of the word "Defying"?

"Defying" comes from Middle English defien "to renounce, disavow, scorn, challenge to fight," borrowed from Anglo-French defier, desfier, from de-, des- de- + fier "to pledge, trust in, rely on," going back to Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, re-formation of Latin fīdere "to trust (in), have confidence (in)" faith:1. First known use: 14th century.