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defy
[ dih-fahy, dee- ]
verb (used with object)
- 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: , , ,
- 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.
- to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible:
They defied him to dive off the bridge.
- Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest.
noun
- a challenge; a defiance.
defy
/ ɪˈڲɪ /
verb
- to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
- to elude, esp in a baffling way
his actions defy explanation
- formal.to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare
I defy you to climb that cliff
- archaic.to invite to do battle or combat
Derived Forms
- ˈھ, noun
Other 51Թ Forms
- ·ھ·· adjective
- ·ڲ·Բ· adverb
- ··ڲ verb (used with object) predefied predefying
- ··ڲ verb (used with object) redefied redefying
- un··ھ·· adjective
- ܲ··ھ·· adverb
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of defy1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of defy1
Example Sentences
But Apple defied the order, the court said.
Senate, where Democrats say Republican leaders would have to defy long-standing congressional order to get the measures passed.
The president continues to defy a Supreme Court ruling to “facilitate” the return of a man wrongly deported to El Salvador’s gulag.
“Yet some State and local officials nevertheless continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws,” it reads.
If they do say he's gone too far, the question then is whether he will once again abuse his power and defy them.
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