defy

Plural: defies

Verb

Verb Forms: defied, defying, defies

To openly resist or refuse to obey.
resist or confront with resistance
elude, especially in a baffling way
challenge
To challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).
To refuse to obey.
To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce.

Noun

A challenge.

Examples

He decided to defy the conventional wisdom and play a risky, short word for positioning.
If you defy your teacher you may end up in detention.
to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion

Origin / Etymology

From Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfidare (“renounce one's faith”), from Latin dis- (“away”) + fidus (“faithful”). Meaning shifted in the 14th century from "be disloyal" to "challenge". Contrast confide, fidelity, faith.

Synonyms

dare, hold, hold up, refuse, resist, withstand

Antonyms

lend oneself

Scrabble Score: 11

defy: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
defy: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
defy: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

defy: valid Words With Friends Word