ENGLISH
REFERENCE

defies

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪˈfaɪz// UK //dɪfˈaɪz// de·fies

v. to refuse to obey a person, a rule, or a law. It can also mean that something is so strange or amazing that it is impossible to describe or believe.

v. to openly resist or refuse to obey a person, regulation, or authority; alternatively, to be of such a nature that description or belief is rendered impossible. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The young athlete defies the coach's orders.

CONTEXTUAL

The beauty of the mountain range defies description, as no photograph can capture the scale of the peaks.

COMPLEX

The small nation continues to defy international pressure, maintaining its unique economic policies despite the threat of severe trade sanctions from its larger neighbors.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

Pitfall

He defies to the rulesHe defies the rulesDefy is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before its object.

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