by defiant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by defiant" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks context to determine its intended use. Example: "He responded by defiant behavior, refusing to follow the rules."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

His diagnosis, records show, was mild chronic depression accompanied by defiant and negative behavior.

The New York Times

On Saturday that sentiment was being picked up by defiant Norwegians.

The Guardian

This attack was followed by defiant protests in support of our freedom of speech, including Charlie Hebdo's cartoons.

Independent

And though there have been violent incidents in the past few days by defiant elements, the organization's leaders quickly backed down when the president denounced the attacks.

The Washington Post

Otherwise, futile air strikes, followed by defiant chemical weapon use, might well be in progress, while Iran nuclear talks certainly wouldn't be.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Gezi Park — the green corner of the square — remains occupied by defiant protesters who on Friday mostly disavowed a compromise between their self-declared leaders and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to end a political crisis that has been punctuated by bouts of street violence that have severely damaged Turkey's image, and its economy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

On 19 July, III./JG 51 were confronted by Defiants of No. 141 Squadron south of Folkestone.

Wikipedia

To maintain their self-respect, they often respond by being defiant, by transgressing certain norms, even in how they speak, dress, or style their hair.

Harvard University

I don't want to make it harder for my mom". Counselors treating youngsters in the schools here, and experts in childhood trauma, say some children respond to such stress by becoming defiant, others by growing uncommunicative.

The New York Times

The ballot, which at times saw officials outnumber voters at some polling stations, came after weeks of turbulence triggered by a defiant bid for a third term by the president, Pierre Nkurunziza.

The Guardian

Invented in the 1920s by the Muslim Brotherhood, kept alive by their many affiliates and offshoots, boosted by the failures of Nasserism and Baathism, allegedly bankrolled by Saudi and Qatari money, and inspired by the defiant example of revolutionary Iran, Islamism has for years provided a coherent narrative about what ails Muslim societies and where the cure lies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "by defiant". Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "with defiance" or "in a defiant manner" for clear and effective communication.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "defiant" as an adverb or within a prepositional phrase incorrectly. Remember that "defiant" is an adjective; therefore, needs to be combined with a noun or expressed in an adverbial form (defiantly) or using a different structure.

Linguistic Context

"By defiant" functions as an attempted prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb. However, it's grammatically flawed, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. Examples show the intended meaning involves expressing opposition or resistance, but a different structure is required for correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "by defiant" appears in some sources, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. To convey the intended meaning of acting with resistance or opposition, it's best to use alternatives such as "with defiance", "in a defiant manner", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity and grammatical accuracy. While the phrase appears in news and academic contexts, its incorrectness makes it unsuitable for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with defiance

Changes the grammatical structure to use "defiance" as a noun, making the phrase grammatically correct.

in a defiant manner

Replaces "by defiant" with a more standard adverbial phrase.

through defiance

Emphasizes that defiance is the method or means used.

showing defiance

Focuses on the act of displaying a defiant attitude.

displaying a defiant attitude

Expands on 'showing defiance' to be more explicit.

acting defiantly

Uses the adverbial form of defiant to describe the action.

exhibiting defiance

Similar to 'showing defiance', but with a slightly more formal tone.

characterized by defiance

Describes something as being defined or marked by defiance.

with a defiant spirit

Highlights the internal quality or attitude of defiance.

marked by defiant behavior

Focuses on behavior as the manifestation of defiance.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "by defiant"?

Instead of "by defiant", consider using phrases like "with defiance", "in a defiant manner", or "through defiance" for grammatical correctness.

Is "by defiant" grammatically correct?

No, "by defiant" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use a construction that uses "defiance" as a noun or an adverbial form such as "acting defiantly".

How can I use the idea of defiance correctly in a sentence?

You can express defiance correctly by using phrases like "showing defiance", "displaying a defiant attitude", or rephrasing to use "defiance" as a noun modified by a preposition.

What's the difference between "by defiant" and "with defiance"?

"By defiant" is grammatically incorrect, while "with defiance" correctly uses "defiance" as a noun in a prepositional phrase to indicate the manner in which something is done.