defied expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

"defied expectations" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where the outcome was different than expected. For example, "The election results defied expectations and the underdog candidate won."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What did you expect would happen?" Saddam dinars have defied expectations for some time.

The New York Times

The decline defied expectations for an increase.

The New York Times

"Dancing with the Stars" defied expectations again.

The New York Times - Arts

But General Dostum has consistently defied expectations.

The New York Times

The Daily Express says Miliband defied expectations.

The Guardian

So he has defied expectations in the past.

The New Yorker

That, too, defied expectations, but of greater strength, not less.

The New York Times

Until now, he had defied expectations at every turn.

The New York Times

Still, West Nile has already defied expectations here.

The New York Times - Science

The Manhattan real estate market has stubbornly defied expectations.

The New York Times

That defied expectations for growth to hold at 0.4%.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defied expectations" to highlight situations where the actual result significantly differed from what was predicted or believed to be likely. This adds emphasis to the unexpected nature of the outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "defied expectations" when the outcome only slightly differs from what was anticipated. This phrase is best reserved for scenarios with substantial and surprising discrepancies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defied expectations" functions as a descriptive term indicating that an actual outcome or result differed significantly from what was predicted or anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples from various reliable sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "defied expectations" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe situations where outcomes differ significantly from predictions. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples reveals its common usage across news, business, and academic contexts. While suitable for formal writing, avoiding overuse in cases of minor deviation is advised. Related phrases like "exceeded predictions" or "belied assumptions" can provide nuanced alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded predictions

Indicates a greater degree of success compared to the original expectation.

surpassed anticipations

Similar to exceeding, but emphasizes a higher level of achievement than initially thought possible.

belied assumptions

Highlights the falsification of underlying assumptions rather than just the outcome.

proved wrong estimates

Focuses on the incorrectness of numerical or quantitative estimations.

ran counter to predictions

Illustrates an opposing direction from the initial predictions.

mocked forecasts

Suggests a strong contrast between the predictions and the actual results, often with a sense of irony.

invalidated projections

Emphasizes the inaccuracy of previous projections based on new information or events.

confounded doubters

Specifically targets those who doubted success, indicating a surprising positive outcome.

went against the grain

Implies a deviation from the norm or typical pattern, not just expectations.

bucked the trend

Suggests resisting or going against a prevailing trend or pattern.

FAQs

How can I use "defied expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "defied expectations" to describe situations where the outcome was significantly different from what was predicted or anticipated. For example, "The company's profits "defied expectations" and soared to new heights".

What can I say instead of "defied expectations"?

You can use alternatives like "exceeded predictions", "surpassed anticipations", or "belied assumptions" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "defied expectations" in formal writing?

Yes, "defied expectations" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when discussing unexpected results or outcomes in business, academic, or news contexts.

What's the difference between "defied expectations" and "challenged expectations"?

"Defied expectations" implies a significant difference between the predicted and actual outcome, while "challenged expectations" suggests that the expectations were questioned or put to the test, but not necessarily proven wrong.