defiant
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defiant
- /dɪˈfaɪ(j)ənt/ UK
- /dɪˈfaɪənt/ US
Rhymes with -aɪənt
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French défiant, from the verb défier. Doublet of diffident. By surface analysis, def(i) + -ant.
adjective more defiant · most defiant
- Defying. She paused and took a defiant breath. ‘If you don't believe me, I can't help it. But I'm not a liar.’ ¶ ‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough![…]What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit o
- Boldly resisting opposition. But the demonstrators remained defiant, pouring into the streets by the thousands and venting their anger over political corruption, the high cost of living and huge public spending for the World Cup and the Olympics.
Similar: dareful, rebellious, recalcitrant, truculent · Opposite: docile, obedient, submissive, dominant
noun defiants
- One who defies opposition. Countries condemning South Africa, Portugal and Rhodesia still find it necessary to trade with these defiants against so-called world opinion.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: insubordinate, recalcitrant, resistant, obstreperous, resistive, defiance, defy, challenging, oppositional, aggressive, challenge, provocative, arrogant, cocky, unforgiving, challenged
adjective
Similar: dareful, rebellious, recalcitrant, truculent · Opposite: docile, obedient, submissive, dominant
Translations
Every language
adj defying
| Español | desafiante, desafiador, suponer un desafío |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 反抗的な hankōteki na |
| Português | desafiador |
| Deutsch | keck, frech, trotzig |
| Italiano | insolente, spavaldo, provocatorio |
| Русский | непоко́рный nepokórnyj, де́рзкий dérzkij |
adj boldly resisting opposition
| Español | fresco, contestatario, inconformista, impugnador, achorado |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 開き直った hirakinaotta |
| Deutsch | trotzig |
| Italiano | ribelle, apertamente disobbediente |
| Русский | непоко́рный nepokórnyj, неповину́ющийся nepovinújuščijsja, вызыва́ющий vyzyvájuščij |
Talk about this word "defiant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/defiant. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. defiant. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/defiant "defiant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/defiant.Cite this
@misc{defiant_2026,
title = {defiant},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/defiant},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
