'defy' definitions:
Definition of 'defy'
From: WordNet
verb
Resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held" [syn: defy, withstand, hold, hold up]
verb
Elude, especially in a baffling way; "This behavior defies explanation" [syn: defy, resist, refuse] [ant: apply, lend oneself]
verb
Challenge; "I dare you!" [syn: defy, dare]
Definition of 'defy'
From: GCIDE
- defy \de*fy"\ (d[-e]*f[imac]"), n. A challenge. [Obs.] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'defy'
From: GCIDE
- defy \de*fy"\ (d[-e]*f[imac]"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied (d[-e]*f[imac]d"); p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] [F. d['e]fier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.]
- 1. To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- I defy the surety and the bond. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- For thee I have defied my constant mistress. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion. [1913 Webster]
- I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'defy'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- affront,
- attack,
- baffle,
- balk,
- battle cry,
- be a man,
- be proof against,
- bear up,
- bear up against,
- beard,
- bid defiance,
- bid to combat,
- blast,
- brave,
- brazen out,
- break,
- break the law,
- breast,
- bring before,
- bring forward,
- bring up,
- call out,
- care naught for,
- cartel,
- challenge,
- checkmate,
- circumvent,
- confound,
- confront,
- confront with,
- contravene,
- counter,
- counteract,
- countermand,
- counterwork,
- cross,
- dare,
- dash,
- declare war,
- defeat,
- defi,
- deride,
- destroy,
- discomfit,
- disconcert,
- discountenance,
- dish,
- disobey,
- disregard,
- disrupt,
- do violence to,
- double dare,
- double-dare,
- elude,
- encounter,
- endure,
- envisage,
- face,
- face out,
- face with,
- flout,
- flummox,
- foil,
- front,
- frustrate,
- gage,
- gage of battle,
- gauntlet,
- gibe,
- glove,
- go counter to,
- have the guts,
- have the nerve,
- hold out,
- hold up,
- ignore,
- infringe,
- knock the chocks,
- lay before,
- levy war on,
- make bold to,
- make war on,
- meet,
- meet squarely,
- mock,
- nonplus,
- not conform,
- not heed,
- not keep,
- not listen,
- not mind,
- not observe,
- open hostilities,
- outdare,
- outface,
- perplex,
- place before,
- present to,
- put it to,
- rebel yell,
- rebuff,
- refuse to cooperate,
- repel,
- repulse,
- resist,
- ridicule,
- ruin,
- sabotage,
- scoff at,
- scorn,
- scotch,
- scout,
- scream defiance,
- set at defiance,
- set at naught,
- set before,
- set naught by,
- show fight,
- spike,
- spoil,
- stand,
- stand up,
- stand up to,
- stare down,
- stem,
- stonewall,
- stump,
- thwart,
- trample on,
- trample underfoot,
- trample upon,
- transgress,
- trespass,
- upset,
- venture,
- violate,
- war cry,
- war whoop,
- withstand