defies intervention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defies intervention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that cannot be altered or influenced by outside forces. Example: "The patient's condition is so stable that it defies intervention from the medical team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That almost defies intervention.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Polish Communists reacted to the uprising in their country by reinstating Wladyslaw Gomulka as party chief, defying threats of military intervention from Moscow.

The New York Times

Letters are welcome via e-mail to [email protected]'s strongmanSIR – "The new world order" (March 22nd) criticised Vladimir Putin for "defying the principle that intervention abroad should be a last resort in the face of genuine suffering".

The Economist

That combination of protection and subterfuge is a formula for intervention in any country with a minority, not just a Russian one.Brandishing fabricated accounts of Ukrainian fascists threatening Crimea, he has defied the principle that intervention abroad should be a last resort in the face of genuine suffering.

The Economist

The increasing diversity among American Christians often defies our ability to brand as either left or right their religious interventions into the world of politics.

The Guardian - Opinion

A wide and unresolved debate surrounds the best way to deploy and evaluate CM interventions (CMI) [ 31, 32], with many arguing that the complex and improvisational nature of good CM defies summary in the linear 'input output' models of change that characterise the 'gold standard' approach of randomised controlled trials (RCT).

AIDS and Behavior

It defies easy description.

The Economist

Turkey defies clichés.

The New York Times

But this defies credibility.

The New York Times - Books

He defies categorization.

The New York Times - Arts

The logic defies me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defies intervention" when you want to emphasize that a situation is so stable or entrenched that external attempts to change it are unlikely to succeed. This implies a significant degree of resistance or immutability.

Common error

Avoid using "defies intervention" when a situation merely presents challenges to intervention. "Defies" suggests an almost insurmountable barrier, not just difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defies intervention" functions as a verb phrase where "defies" is a transitive verb indicating resistance or impossibility, and "intervention" is the direct object. The phrase asserts that something actively opposes or makes intervention ineffective. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "defies intervention" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express strong resistance to external attempts at change. Ludwig AI validates this and shows its usage across contexts, primarily in News & Media and Science. While not overly common, it's a powerful phrase when you want to emphasize the futility of intervention. Alternatives like "resists intervention" or "eludes intervention" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resists interference

Replaces "intervention" with "interference" maintaining the sense of resistance to external influence.

eludes intervention

Uses "eludes" to convey the idea of avoiding or escaping intervention, focusing on successful evasion.

precludes intervention

Indicates that something makes intervention impossible or unnecessary.

makes intervention impossible

Explicitly states the impossibility of intervention.

is beyond intervention

Suggests that the situation has progressed to a point where intervention is no longer effective or possible.

is impervious to intervention

Implies that something is unaffected and cannot be influenced by intervention.

thwarts intervention

Focuses on the active prevention of intervention.

negates intervention

Highlights that the intervention is useless.

nullifies intervention

Emphasizes the intervention has no effect.

frustrates intervention

Highlights the intervention is failing.

FAQs

How can I use "defies intervention" in a sentence?

You can use "defies intervention" to describe situations that resist change or influence, such as "The complexity of the system "defies intervention"" or "His behavior "defies intervention"."

What does it mean when something "defies intervention"?

When something "defies intervention", it means that attempts to alter or influence it are unlikely to be successful. It suggests a strong resistance to external forces.

Which is a stronger phrase, "resists intervention" or "defies intervention"?

"Defies intervention" is generally stronger than "resists intervention". "Defies" suggests a complete inability to be influenced, while "resists" implies some level of opposition but not necessarily invulnerability. Consider "eludes intervention" too.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "defies intervention"?

Some alternatives to "defies intervention" include "resists intervention", "eludes intervention", "precludes intervention", or "is beyond intervention", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.