World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesDesafiar
Pronunciation / Transliteration: desafiar
"Ella desafía las reglas al quedarse fuera tarde."
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。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all Spanish termsA secondary residence owned or rented by a family or individual, used primarily for recreational purposes, holidays, or seasonal getaways.
Not producing or containing venom; incapable of injecting poison through a bite, sting, or other mechanism.
Placing the customer's needs, experiences, and preferences at the center of a business's philosophy, operations, and decision-making.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Defy"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
What is a SLOT SWOT Analysis and How Do You Actually Do One?
A SLOT SWOT analysis is an expanded strategic planning framework that blends personal or organizational 'SLOT' (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) metrics with traditional 'SWOT' dynamics. It provides a granular approach to evaluating internal capabilities against external market realities.