Word
defiance
Phoneticsde·fi·ance
US/dɪˈfaɪəns/
UK/dɪfˈaɪəns/
Definitions
01refusal to obey
n. the act of openly refusing to obey a rule or a person in power.
n. the act of open resistance or bold disobedience toward authority, rules, or opposing forces.
“The students wore casual clothes in defiance of the school's strict uniform policy.”
“The protesters remained in the square in open defiance of the government's curfew, risking arrest to make their voices heard.”
Usage
Commonly used in the prepositional phrase 'in defiance of'.
Pitfall
He acted in defiance to the law.
He acted in defiance of the law.
The noun 'defiance' is almost always followed by the preposition 'of'.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'defense'. Remind them that 'defiance' is about attacking or ignoring rules, while 'defense' is about protecting something.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a bold attitude
n. a feeling or way of behaving that shows you are not afraid of someone or something.
n. a challenging or contemptuous attitude toward opposition or danger.
“There was a look of defiance in her eyes as she told the boss she was quitting.”
“Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the small team played with a spirit of defiance that earned the respect of the crowd.”
Usage
Often used with verbs like 'show', 'express', or 'display'.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“When one of the men attempted to steal some of these riches for himself, in direct defiance of Tyler’s ban on looting, his comrades threw him into the flames as punishment.” “Lawyers for Beatty said on Thursday that they view the board’s recent actions “as outright defiance” against the court.” Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/defiance