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Synonyms for defies

Grammar : Verb
Spell : verb dih-fahy; noun dih-fahy, dee-fahy
Phonetic Transcription : verb dɪˈfaɪ; noun dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi faɪ

Top 10 synonyms for defies
Other synonyms for the word defies

Définition of defies

Origin :
  • c.1300, "to renounce one's allegiance;" mid-14c., "to challenge, defy," from Old French defier, desfier "to challenge, defy, provoke; renounce (a belief), repudiate (a vow, etc.)," from Vulgar Latin *disfidare "renounce one's faith," from Latin dis- "away" (see dis-) + fidus "faithful" (see faith).
  • verb challenge, frustrate
Example sentences :
  • It is the falsehood of the silliest poetry to say he defies the image of his beloved.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • I now come to a point in the drama which at once demands and defies explanation.
  • Extract from : « The Man Shakespeare » by Frank Harris
  • All is soil for the plough, all defies our designs for complete explanation.
  • Extract from : « Mountain Meditations » by L. Lind-af-Hageby
  • If, however, one of the challenged be a spirited fellow, he defies him.
  • Extract from : « A Supplementary Chapter to the Bible in Spain » by George Borrow
  • He defies the stick, and he would defy the gallows if it were far enough off.
  • Extract from : « The Memoires of Casanova, Complete » by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
  • But it is civilization which defies it and brings down the penalty.
  • Extract from : « The True Story of Our National Calamity of Flood, Fire and Tornado » by Logan Marshall
  • "He says that he does not believe in spirits, and that he defies them," she answered.
  • Extract from : « Benita, An African Romance » by H. Rider Haggard
  • "Master Robert defies the majesty of the law," said Winter dryly.
  • Extract from : « The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley » by Louis Tracy
  • It is to him that I owe what is my only beauty, and I am assured that it defies detection.
  • Extract from : « Marge Askinforit » by Barry Pain
  • The scene of the instant after that defies ordinary description.
  • Extract from : « Stingaree » by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung

Antonyms for defies

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019