Finesentence

Defiant Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

👊
Save

defiant

de-fi-ant

🇺🇸 /dɪˈfaɪənt/ · 🇬🇧 /dɪfˈaɪənt/

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

independent

showing open resistance or bold disobedience.

Synonyms

insubordinate, rebellious, recalcitrant, resistant.

Examples of usage

  • He remained defiant in the face of criticism.
  • She was defiant and refused to back down.
  • The students were defiant in their protest against the new policy.
Context #2 | Noun

person

a person who resists authority or control.

Synonyms

dissenter, insurgent, nonconformist, rebel.

Examples of usage

  • He was seen as a defiant of the rules and regulations.
  • The defiant refused to follow the orders given by the authorities.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “defiant”

Defiant is a 3-syllable adjective and noun (de-fi-ant). It is pronounced /dɪˈfaɪənt/ in American English and /dɪfˈaɪənt/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 8 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #15,850 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'defiant'

The word 'defiant' originated from the Latin word 'defiantem', which means 'challenging' or 'defying'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. Over the years, 'defiant' has come to be associated with a spirit of resistance and disobedience, often used to describe individuals or actions that openly challenge authority or norms.


See also: defiance, defying.

Rhymes

Defiant rhymes with supergiant, client, giant, compliant, reliant, pliant, alliant and briant.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,850, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.