defiant

Etymology

Borrowed from French défiant, from the verb défier. Doublet of diffident.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfaɪ(j)ənt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /dɪˈfaɪənt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪənt

Adjective

defiant (comparative more defiant, superlative most defiant)

1. defying.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 15, in The China Governess‎:

     She paused and took a defiant breath. ‘If you don't believe me, I can't help it. But I'm not a liar.’ ¶ ‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! […] What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’

2. Boldly resisting opposition.
   • 2013 June 18, Simon Romero, "Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders," New York Times (retrieved 21 June 2013):

     But the demonstrators remained defiant, pouring into the streets by the thousands and venting their anger over political corruption, the high cost of living and huge public spending for the World Cup and the Olympics.

Further reading

• defiant in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• defiant in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• fainted

Verb

dēfiant

1. third-person plural present active subjunctive of dēfiō