释义
[ verb dih-fahy ; noun dih-fahy , dee -fahy ] SHOW IPA
/ verb dɪˈfaɪ; noun dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi faɪ / PHONETIC RESPELLING
SEE SYNONYMS FOR defy ON THESAURUS.COM
verb (used with object), de·fied, de·fy·ing. to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority.
to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack.
to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.
Archaic . to challenge to a combat or contest.
Origin of defy 1250–1300; Middle English
defien <Old French
desfier, equivalent to
des- dis-
1 +
fier to trust <Vulgar Latin
*fīdāre, variant of Latin
fīdere SYNONYMS FOR defy 1 dare, brave, flout, scorn.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR defy ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM defy de·fi·a·ble, adjective de·fy·ing·ly, adverb pre·de·fy, verb (used with object), pre·de·fied, pre·de·fy·ing. re·de·fy, verb (used with object), re·de·fied, re·de·fy·ing.
un·de·fi·a·ble, adjective un·de·fi·a·bly, adverb un·de·fied, adjective
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Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for defy He defied the atheism of communism and the empty religious practices of Putinism.
Remembering the Russian Priest Who Fought the Orthodox Church | Cathy Young| December 28, 2014| DAILY BEAST
The answers include poor planning, budgetary procedures that defied economic logic, and at least one bone-headed accounting error.
America’s 60 Year-Old Nuclear Bomber Might Finally Get a New Engine | Bill Sweetman| October 27, 2014| DAILY BEAST
For months, first term Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan has managed to cling to slim lead that has defied national factors.
In Tarheel State, Democratic Senate Incumbent Bucks National GOP Trend | Ben Jacobs| October 20, 2014| DAILY BEAST
He defied death and gravity to selflessly protect New Yorkers until his final moments in the Twin Towers.
The Flying New York Fireman Who Shined on 9/11 | Michael Daly| September 11, 2014| DAILY BEAST
Stereotypes exist to delineate but also in order to be defied.
In Praise of ‘Awkward’: OMFG MTV, Like, Really Gets High School | Amy Zimmerman| June 20, 2014| DAILY BEAST
Could you—could you sit down and talk about it quietly, Bartley, as if I were a friend, and not some one who had to be defied?
Alexander's Bridge and The Barrel Organ | Willa Cather and Alfred Noyes
She looked at it as if it were a living thing that defied her.
The Evil Genius | Wilkie Collins
Forbes told him so, denied all that he had said, defied him, and turned him out.
What Will People Say? | Rupert Hughes
She drew back her head fiercely, as though she defied him to excuse her.
Lady Connie | Mrs. Humphry Ward
The Jesuits took to the mountains and marshes to save their people, but the Franciscans defied the edict.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921 | Thomas J. Campbell
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British Dictionary definitions for defy verb -fies , -fying or -fied (tr) to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
to elude, esp in a baffling way his actions defy explanation
formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare I defy you to climb that cliff
archaic to invite to do battle or combat
Derived forms of defy defier , noun Word Origin for defy C14: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Words related to defy resist, spurn, thwart, violate, withstand, confront, ridicule, elude, flout, ignore, oppose, disregard, provoke, mock, repulse, despise, brave, insult, slight, face