Defy

[de·fy]

To defy is to openly refuse to do something. You can defy the no costumes in class rule if you wear your fairy wings to school, but just don’t try to defy the laws of gravity unless you can actually fly.

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To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.

Verb
challenge; "I dare you!"

Verb
resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held"

Verb
elude, especially in a baffling way; "This behavior defies explanation"

v. t.
To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.

v. t.
To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.

n.
A challenge.

Defy

De*fy" , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied ; p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] [F. d'82fier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.] 1. To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.]

I defy the surety and the bond.

For thee I have defied my constant mistress.

2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.

I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight.

I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary.

Defy

De*fy" , n. A challenge. [Obs.] Dryden.

To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.

A challenge.

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Usage Examples

It is remarkable that this people, though unarmed, dares attack an armed foe the infantry defy the cavalry, and by their activity and courage generally prove victors.

You must not fear death, my lads defy him, and you drive him into the enemy's ranks.

I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.

Misspelled Form

Defy, Defy, efy, Defy, Dwefy, D3efy, D4efy, Drefy, Dsefy, Ddefy, Dwfy, D3fy, D4fy, Drfy, Dsfy, Ddfy, Dewfy, De3fy, De4fy, Derfy, Desfy, Dedfy, Dedfy, Derfy, Detfy, Degfy, Devfy, Decfy, Dedy, Dery, Dety, Degy, Devy, Decy, Defdy, Defry, Defty, Defgy, Defvy, Defcy, Defty, Def6y, Def7y, Defuy, Defhy, Deft, Def6, Def7, Defu, Defh, Defyt, Defy6, Defy7, Defyu, Defyh.

Other Usage Examples

Defy your own group. Rebel against yourself.

It is only in sorrow bad weather masters us in joy we face the storm and defy it.

Rosa Parks was a woman of strength, conviction, and morality. Her action on December 1, 1955, to defy the law made her a leading figure in our nation's civil rights history.