Home Synonyms defy

Synonyms of defy in English:

defy


See US English definition of defy

See UK English definition of defy

See Spanish definition of desacatar

verb

1‘61 rebel MPs defied the prime minister and voted against the bill’

SYNONYMS
disobey, refuse to obey, go against, rebel against, flout, fly in the face of, thumb one's nose at, disregard, ignore, set one's face against, kick against
break, violate, contravene, breach, infringe
informal cock a snook at
archaic set at naught
ANTONYMS

obey

2‘about 150 settlers defied Sant'Anna's army of 5,000’

SYNONYMS
resist, withstand, take a stand against, hold out against, stand up to, confront, face, meet head-on, take on, square up to, beard, brave, outface
ANTONYMS

surrender

3‘the logic of this defied her’

SYNONYMS
elude, escape, defeat
foil, frustrate, thwart, baffle

4‘he glowered at her, defying her to mock him’

SYNONYMS
challenge, dare
throw down the gauntlet