Vocabulary Spotlight
Defy
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To openly resist or challenge authority, rules, or norms; to go against or refuse to comply with something.
“The protesters gathered to defy the new law that restricted public gatherings.”
Pronunciation
[dih-fahy]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Challenge
Oppose
Confront
Rebel
Antonyms
Obey
Submit
Yield
Respect
Related Words
Defiant (adjective)
Resist (verb)
Word Origin
“Defy” originates from the Latin “disfidare,” meaning “to renounce faith or trust,” evolving into resistance or refusal in English.
Word Family
Noun: Defiance – The act of resisting authority.
Adjective: Defiant – Showing a disposition to challenge authority.
Mnemonics
Think “defy” as “deny” authority – to resist or refuse to follow a rule.
Industry-specific Usage
Law
In legal contexts, to defy an order or ruling means to disobey it, often resulting in consequences.
Politics
In politics, groups may defy government regulations as a form of protest or civil disobedience.
Social Movements
In social contexts, individuals defy social norms to challenge and bring awareness to inequalities.
In Context
“Defy” is used to describe acts of resistance or rebellion against authority, rules, or expectations, common in protest movements or situations requiring civil disobedience.