defiance

de·fi·ance

noun \di-ˈfī-ən(t)s, dē-\

Definition of DEFIANCE

1

: the act or an instance of defying : challenge

2

: disposition to resist : willingness to contend or fight

— in defiance of

: contrary to : despite <seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics>

Examples of DEFIANCE

1. <any defiance of the authoritarian regime would have dire consequences>
2. <the troubled youth seems to have an ingrained defiance to authority of any sort>

First Known Use of DEFIANCE

15th century

Related to DEFIANCE

Synonyms: balkiness, contrariness, contumacy, disobedience, frowardness, insubordination, intractability, obstreperousness, rebellion, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, unruliness, waywardness, willfulness

Antonyms: compliance, obedience, submission, subordinateness, subordination, tractability, tractableness

Related Words: civil disobedience, noncooperation; discourteousness, disrespect, impertinence, impoliteness, impudence, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, insolence, rudeness, ungraciousness; doggedness, hardheadedness, mulishness, obduracy, obdurateness, obstinacy, obstinateness, peevishness, pertinaciousness, pertinacity, perversity, pigheadedness, self-will, stubbornness, tenaciousness, tenacity; knavery, mischievousness, naughtiness

Near Antonyms: agreeability, amenability, amiability; slavishness, submissiveness, subservience, subserviency; trainability; deference, docility, dutifulness

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Rhymes with DEFIANCE

affiance, nonscience