defy

verb C1

Meaning

To defy is to openly resist or refuse to obey an established authority, convention, or expectation, often characterized by a bold or audacious stance that challenges the legitimacy or validity of the opposing force.
💡 While "defy" often implies a sense of rebellion, it can also carry connotations of courage and empowerment; misuse may occur when equating it with mere disobedience without acknowledging the context of challenge or resistance.

Example Sentences

She decided to defy the rules and speak her mind .
The company chose to defy the new regulations despite potential penalties .
The company decided to defy market trends and launch a new product .
The experiment's results defy the initial hypothesis proposed by researchers .

Never forget "defy"

Set a daily goal, reinforce with word cards and games, and track your progress in the Vocab5000 app — learn every C1 level word permanently with our science-based repetition system.

Vocab5000

More C1 Level Words