World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesDefy
/dɪˈfaɪ/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To openly resist or refuse to obey.
"She defies the rules by staying out late." - 2
To challenge someone to do something.
"He defies anyone to prove him wrong."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from Middle English defien, from Old French desfier, based on Vulgar Latin *disfidare meaning 'to renounce one's faith or trust', from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + fidare (to trust, from fides faith). Over time, the meaning shifted from renouncing allegiance to challenging or resisting authority or expectation.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Defy"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Defy" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
Défier
Transliteration: defier
"Elle défie les règles en sortant tard."
Herausfordern
Transliteration: herausfordern
"Er fordert jeden heraus, ihn zu widerlegen."
Sfida
Transliteration: sfida
"Lei sfida le regole rimanendo fuori tardi."
Desafiar
Transliteration: desafiar
"Ella desafía las reglas al quedarse fuera tarde."
Desafiar
Transliteration: desafiar
"Ela desafia as regras ao ficar fora tarde."
चुनौती देना
Transliteration: chunauti dena
"वह नियमों को चुनौती देती है।"
挑战
Transliteration: tiǎozhàn
"她挑战规则，晚上待得很晚。"
도전하다
Transliteration: dojeonhada
"그녀는 규칙에 도전하여 늦게까지 밖에 있습니다."
挑戦する
Transliteration: chōsen suru
"彼女はルールに挑戦して遅くまで外にいます。"
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