defiant en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /dɪˈfaɪənt/ (US)
- (US) audio
- /dɪˈfaɪ(j)ənt/ (UK)
Etymology
Borrowed from French défiant, from the verb défier. Doublet of diffident. By surface analysis, def(i) + -ant.
Meanings
-
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 of embroidery or anything at all?’
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 15, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
-
Boldly resisting opposition.
Gunshots rang out in the capital Abuja and also in the neighboring Niger state as police lobbed tear gas to disperse defiant protesters. In Niger, at least six people are now feared dead, local media reported.
2024 August 1, Nimi Princewill and Stephanie Busari, “Violence erupts as Nigerians protest hunger across the nation”, in CNN: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.
2013 June 18, Simon Romero, “Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders”, in The New York Times, retrieved 21 Jun 2013:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most defiant | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more defiant | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
dominant · obedient · docile · submissive
Deriveds
defiantly · undefiant · nondefiant · oppositional defiant disorder · defiantness
Relateds
Synonyms
recalcitrant · dareful · rebellious · truculent
Translations (50)
cy herfeiddiol (defying) · ru вызыва́ющий (boldly resisting opposition) · de trotzig (defying) · la contumax (defying) · tr meydan okuyucu (defying) · bg непокорен (defying) · eo malobeema (boldly resisting opposition) · pl nieposłuszny (defying) · bg неподчиняващ се (defying) · tr küstah (defying) · es desafiante (defying) · it spavaldo (defying) · de trotzig (boldly resisting opposition) · es fresco (boldly resisting opposition) · it ribelle (boldly resisting opposition) · ja 開き直った (boldly resisting opposition) · es impugnador (boldly resisting opposition) · tr serkeş (defying) · es inconformista (boldly resisting opposition) · es suponer un desafío (defying) · hu kihívó (defying) · sv utmanande (boldly resisting opposition) · da trodsig (defying) · eo defia (defying) · sv trotsig (defying) · es contestatario (boldly resisting opposition) · es achorado (boldly resisting opposition) · mi whakaio (defying) · it insolente (defying) · hu pimasz (defying) · la contumax (boldly resisting opposition) · de keck (defying) · fi uhitteleva (defying) · ru де́рзкий (defying) · it provocatorio (defying) · hu dacos (defying) · ca desafiador (defying) · fi uhmakas (boldly resisting opposition) · it apertamente disobbediente (boldly resisting opposition) · hu ellenszegülő (boldly resisting opposition) · bg предизвикателен (boldly resisting opposition) · ru непоко́рный (boldly resisting opposition) · es desafiador (defying) · ja 反抗的な (defying) · fi uhmakas (defying) · ru непоко́рный (defying) · mi whakatumatuma (defying) · ru неповину́ющийся (boldly resisting opposition) · pt desafiador (defying) · de frech (defying)