defy

Meaning

Verb

1. To challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).
2. To refuse to obey.
3. To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
4. (obsolete) 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

violate

break

disregard

flout

withstand

provoke

brave

contravene

infringe

contradict

mock

transgress

refuse

rise against

bite back

beard

insult

outface

stand up to

deride

strike at

hold

hold up

rebel

slight

confront

be obstinate

breach

incite

keep out

laugh at

make fun of

object

outdo

overstep

pick

⛏️

pull through

refute

reject

ridicule

scorn

show off

snub

spurn

stave off

stimulate

stray

subpoena

sue

summon

summons

surpass

taunt

tease

tide over

outbrave

turn on

be stubborn

call forth

fly in the face of

swear out

be rebellious

strike back at

conflict

be insubordinate

resist order

invite to contest

chal-lenge

dare to attack

not flinch from

accuse

to counter a thing

assail

beget

bring about

bring on

call out

cause

challenging

cite

controvert

curse

deceive

defiant

delude

demand

denounce

deprecate

despise

destroy

difficult

disdain

eclipse

endure

engender

evoke

exasperate

exceed

excel

fall back

fetch

flaunt

go against

ignore

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.