defy

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).
2. (transitive) To refuse to obey.
3. To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.

Noun

A challenge.

Synonyms

challenge

disobey

oppose

resist

dare

break

violate

flout

disregard

withstand

contravene

provoke

brave

transgress

insult

beard

refuse

rise against

bite back

infringe

mock

contradict

confront

deride

breach

hold

strike at

hold up

be obstinate

slight

outface

rebel

stand up to

disdain

difficult

destroy

despise

cite

deprecate

ignore

denounce

demand

challenging

delude

go against

defiant

cause

incite

flaunt

fetch

Translations

défier

desafiar

sfidare

desafiar

sich widersetzen

trotzen

tarten

résister

braver

herausfordern

uitdagen

trotseren

αψηφώ

désobéir

provoquer

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪˈfaɪ/

Etymology

From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith.