Synonyms and Antonyms of defy
1
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of
- in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day
disoblige
mutiny (against), revolt (against)
disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out
brush off, dismiss, flout, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject, scoff (at), scorn, shrug off, wink (at)
breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate
buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand
capitulate (to), concede (to), defer (to), goose-step (to), serve, stoop (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to)
cooperate (with)
keep, observe
accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), oblige
attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch
2
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat
- after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better
3
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
- a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
face up (to), front
affront
challenge
encounter, meet
accost, approach, corner
repel, resist, stand, withstand
battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)
4
to refuse to give in to
- a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
battle, combat, contend (with)
challenge, contest, contradict, dispute
baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart
check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stem
