defied

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "defied" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate when something has been successfully opposed, resisted, or refused. Example sentence: The student defied all expectations and graduated at the top of her class.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It took 12 months and nine court hearings, from the time our child defied the court order, for the court to come to its own conclusion that it could not force familial relationships.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the end, it was our child who defied the authority of the court.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Hickox defied the order and went for a bike ride, later challenging the restrictions in court and winning permission to move freely while regularly monitoring her temperature.

The Guardian

Of the Chinese government's decision to put down the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in 1989, he said: "There was a crisis after a month in which the civil authorities had been defied.

The Guardian

The first minister restated her commitment to the European convention of human rights, saying that it "defied belief" for any government to move away from it, and called for the UK to do more to help refugees in the Mediterranean.

The Guardian

By denying Djokovic victory, Wawrinka defied all predictions and stopped the Serb's grand slam ambitions in their tracks.

The Guardian - Sport

He recounts joining a reprisal party in the mid-1860s, while mayor, for the killers of a shepherd: "They got on top of a big mound & defied us & smacked their buttocks at us & hurled large stones down on us, & hid themselves behind large trees and huge rocks but some of them paid dearly for their bravado.

The Guardian

She had defied a masked man who said he was from the new IRA terror group when he boarded the bus at about 6.15pm on Wednesday.

The Guardian

At the weekend more than 100 women openly defied the law in Northern Ireland when they revealed in the Observer that they had used abortion pills bought from pro-choice charities over the internet.

The Guardian

When most leaders in the Democratic and Republican parties were saying that we should close our border to children fleeing violence in Central America, he defied them and said that we could not send children 'back to certain death'.

The Guardian

This "casino" defied any evocation of poker machines, blackjack or roulette.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defied" to convey a sense of active resistance or opposition against something authoritative or expected. For example, "The athlete "defied" all odds to win the championship".

Common error

Avoid using "defied" when a more neutral term like "disregarded" or "ignored" would be more appropriate. "Defied" implies a deliberate act of resistance, not simple oversight.

Linguistic Context

The word "defied" primarily functions as a verb, indicating an act of resistance or open disobedience. It's used to express a direct challenge to authority, rules, or expectations. As Ludwig shows, it often suggests a deliberate choice to go against something established.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

15%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "defied", as Ludwig AI confirms, is grammatically correct and widely used. It serves to highlight acts of resistance, opposition, or non-compliance with authority or expectations. Predominantly found in News & Media, Sport and Opinion pieces, "defied" carries a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While common, remember to use "defied" when active resistance is intended. For more neutral contexts, consider alternatives such as "disregarded" or "ignored".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposed

Implies active resistance or disagreement.

challenged

Suggests questioning or disputing something.

resisted

Indicates an effort to prevent or withstand something.

disobeyed

Specifically refers to not following a command or rule.

flouted

Means to openly disregard or mock a rule or convention.

disregarded

Implies ignoring or paying no attention to something.

ignored

To take no notice of or refuse to acknowledge.

withstood

Successfully resisted or opposed something powerful.

bucked

Resisted or opposed something, especially a trend.

contravened

Violated or went against something, especially a law or principle.

FAQs

How can I use "defied" in a sentence?

Use "defied" to describe an action that resists or opposes authority, expectations, or rules. For example, "The protesters "defied the curfew"".

What are some alternatives to "defied"?

You can use alternatives like "opposed", "challenged", or "resisted" depending on the specific context. Each alternative carries a slightly different nuance.

Is it correct to say someone "defied" expectations?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. It means that someone's actions or outcomes went against what was predicted or anticipated. For example, "The company's profits "defied expectations"".

What is the difference between "defied" and "ignored"?

"Defied" implies active resistance or opposition, while "ignored" simply means to take no notice of. Someone who "defied" a rule actively broke it, while someone who "ignored" it may have simply overlooked it or chosen not to acknowledge it.