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tr.v. de·fied, de·fy·ing, de·fies 1. a. To oppose or resist with boldness and assurance: defied the blockade by sailing straight through it. b. To refuse to submit to or cooperate with: defied the court order by leaving the country. 2. To be beyond the application or scope of; be contrary or resistant to: an act that defies explanation; a problem that defies any conventional approach. 3. To challenge or dare (someone) to do something: She defied her accusers to prove their charges. [Middle English defien, from Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfīdāre : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin fīdus, faithful; see bheidh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] Synonyms: defy, brave, dare, face These verbs mean to confront boldly and courageously: a writer who defied the wrath of the authorities; a composer braving all criticism; explorers who dared the unknown; sailors who faced the dangers of the storm squarely. |
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