defy

[dih-fahy, dee-]

verb (used with object)

defied, defying 

1. to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly.

   Love drives the characters to ignore their family feud and defy parental authority.

   The artist defies conventional categories by blending very different styles in her work.

   Synonyms: scorn, flout, brave, dare

2. to offer effective resistance to; make virtually impossible.

   Their strategic position is helped by having a fort that defies attack.

   The facts were so complex that they defied simple explanation.

3. to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible.

   They defied him to dive off the bridge.

4. Archaic.,  to challenge to a combat or contest.

noun

plural

defies 

1. a challenge; a defiance.

defy

/ dɪˈfaɪ /

verb

1. to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly

2. to elude, esp in a baffling way

   his actions defy explanation

3. formal,  to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare

   I defy you to climb that cliff

4. archaic,  to invite to do battle or combat

Other Word Forms

• defier noun
• defiable adjective
• defyingly adverb
• predefy verb (used with object)
• redefy verb (used with object)
• undefiable adjective
• undefiably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of defy¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle English defien, Old French desfier, from des- dis- ¹ + fier “to trust” (from Vulgar Latin fīdāre (unrecorded), from Latin fīdere; fidelity ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of defy¹

C14: from Old French desfier, from des- _de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere

Example Sentences

Those B-movies treat those contacts as isolated accidents that defy human understanding.

From Salon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas and defied international criticism of his plans to expand the war.

From BBC

A blue plaque dedicated to a gay couple who "defied convention" during the 1950s and 60s has been unveiled at the site of the shop they ran.

From BBC

Latino voters consistently defy political expectations and resist being taken for granted by either party, demonstrating what the author terms “rancho libertarianism” - a blend of community values and individualism that makes them politically unpredictable.

From Los Angeles Times

Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas and defied criticism over his plans to expand the war, from the international community and from Zamir himself.

From BBC

Related Words

• confront 
• disregard 
• elude 
• flout 
• ignore 
• mock 
• oppose 
• provoke 
• resist 
• ridicule 
• spurn 
• thwart 
• violate 
• withstand