Word
defy
To defy someone or something is to refuse to obey, follow, or be controlled by them.
Meanings
to refuse to obey or follow a rule, authority, or order; to resist openly
to successfully resist or remain unaffected by something difficult, such as danger or harsh conditions
to challenge someone to do something, especially something risky or difficult
Definition
To defy means to openly resist authority, rules, or expectations, often in a bold or determined way. You can defy a person, a law, an order, or even difficult conditions. The word suggests deliberate opposition rather than a simple mistake or misunderstanding.
Examples
- I won’t defy my manager in public, but I will question the decision in private.
- You can’t defy the safety rules and then act surprised when access is revoked.
- He chose to defy the curfew, convinced the consequences would be minor.
- She continued to defy expectations by delivering consistently sharp analyses under pressure.
- They defy conventional wisdom by prioritizing long-term impact over quick wins.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "defy" with "deny" (refuse to admit), but "defy" means to resist or refuse to obey.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.