defiance

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "defiance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is openly resistant to something or someone, often in a confrontational way. Example Sentence: The athlete's public defiance of the league's rules was met with strong criticism.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet, far from expressing wonder that an act as extreme and barbaric as the murders is what it takes for the west to show defiance towards a religious duty that is not meaningful to non-Muslims, cultural provocateurs successfully argue that this highly exceptional situation is in fact indicative of a general contempt for Islam.

The Guardian - Opinion

The UUP's defiance on the question of support for the transfer of these powers is portrayed by Ian Paisley as nothing less than a "colossal mistake".

The Guardian

Little of this was reflected at the time in the mainstream media, which mostly portrayed the strike as an anti-democratic insurrection led by a ranting megalomaniac in defiance of economic logic.

The Guardian

They simply did not know how to relate to her, and they were uncomfortable with anything that looked like competition or defiance.

The Guardian

It was met by coordinated defiance, seen in dozens of burning blockades set up around Jalisco, as well as in some neighbouring states.

The Guardian

Defiance of gravity continually undermines the common view, that "Nature... is both blind and automatic".

The Guardian - Books

Writing in the Turkish daily Hurriyet, he says: Assad and the Baathist regime were just as cruel towards their people when [prime minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and [foreign minister Ahmet] Davutoglu were cultivating his friendship in defiance of the West only two years ago.

The Guardian

"I'm not very surprised this campaign appears to have fallen rather flat here and there's been some suitably creative defiance from a brilliantly vibrant and inclusive city".

The Guardian

Not the anti-English, cultural purification nationalism from my childhood, but at least a little defiance, a little recognition of the country's importance and the rights of its people to a decent quality of life.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's not a vote of defiance, bringing in extremists, rather a vote of sanction against a collective eurozone leadership".

The Guardian

Neil Kinnock, then Labour's leader, told councillors that they should abandon defiance that might be considered illegal and instead maintain a "dented shield".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defiance" to convey a sense of bold resistance or open disregard for authority. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being defied.

Common error

Avoid using "defiance" when simply describing disagreement or difference of opinion. "Defiance" implies a stronger, more active form of resistance against a specific authority or established rule.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "defiance" is as a noun, representing the state or act of resisting or challenging authority. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing actions of resistance, as well as the spirit or feeling behind those actions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "defiance" is a noun used to describe the act of resisting authority or opposing established norms. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing, and it's observed as a very common term primarily in contexts like News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. When employing "defiance", ensure the context clearly indicates the subject or entity being resisted. Alternatives such as ""resistance"", "rebellion", and "opposition" can be used to add nuances, but "defiance" itself carries a potent connotation of bold, often justified, resistance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resistance

Focuses on the act of opposing or withstanding, often implying a sustained effort.

rebellion

Suggests a more organized and overt act of defiance against established power.

opposition

Indicates a state of disagreeing or acting against something, often in a political context.

insubordination

Refers specifically to the refusal to obey orders or respect authority within a hierarchical structure.

noncompliance

Emphasizes a failure or refusal to adhere to rules or regulations.

challenge

Highlights the act of questioning or disputing something, often with the intent to provoke change.

disobedience

Implies a direct violation of a command or rule.

contempt

Suggests a feeling of disrespect and disdain towards someone or something.

disregard

Indicates a lack of attention or respect for something.

counteraction

Focuses on a direct action taken to negate or neutralize the effect of another action.

FAQs

How to use "defiance" in a sentence?

Use "defiance" to describe open resistance to authority or opposition to a norm. For example, "The protesters showed their "resistance" by marching in "open defiance" of the curfew."

What can I say instead of "defiance"?

You can use alternatives like ""resistance"", "rebellion", or "opposition" depending on the context. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in defiance to" or "in defiance of"?

The correct phrasing is "in "in defiance of"". The preposition "of" is typically used with "defiance" to indicate what is being resisted or opposed.

What's the difference between "defiance" and "disobedience"?

"Defiance" suggests a more general resistance to authority or expectations, while "disobedience" refers specifically to the act of failing to follow a direct order or rule.