defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

dē-

: full of or showing a disposition to challenge, resist, or fight : full of or showing defiance : bold, impudent

defiant rebels

a defiant refusal

Mantor struck a defiant pose, his chin out, and rocked for a moment on the heels of his boots.

—Christopher Ketcham

Synonyms of defiant

• rebellious
• rebel
• stubborn

Examples of defiant in a Sentence

He's taken a defiant stand on the issue.

the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football

Recent Examples on the Web

The song sets the tone for an album that the pair describe as both hopeful and defiant, with songs addressing love, loss and injustice. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 28 Sep. 2026

This was especially defiant as Zegler’s co-star in the Disney film was Gal Gadot, who served in the Israeli army and has continued to voice support for her home country. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

His music was defiant and bombastic, and critics and fans alike regarded him as a kind of pop messiah. — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Oil ticked higher after Iran’s president delivered a defiant speech at the UN, stirring inflation fears. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

in part borrowed from French défiant "mistrustful," from present participle of défier "to mistrust, challenge, defy entry 1," going back to Old French; in part from defi(ance) + -ant entry 2

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defiant

• oppositional defiant disorder

Rhymes for defiant

• client
• giant
• pliant
• scient
• compliant
• reliant
• suppliant
• noncompliant

Kids Definition

defiant

adjective

de·​fi·​ant di-ˈfī-ənt 

: full of or showing defiance : impudent, insolent

defiantly adverb