Defy: meaning, example and synonyms

Defyv. To openly resist or refuse to obey.

Example

Defying the academy's insistence on historical subjects, the painters exhibited scenes of ordinary laborers, a choice critics at first derided.

Part of speech: verb
Synonyms: resist, disobey, flout, challenge
Antonyms: obey, comply, submit, follow
Memory tip: Defy goes with defiance: standing firm against an order.

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Check yourself: Defy in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

Although the authorities had banned public gatherings, thousands of citizens ______ the order and filled the central square in protest.

Question 2

The young scientist chose to ______ the prevailing consensus, publishing data suggesting that the disease was caused not by diet but by a bacterium.

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