DEFIANT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does defiant mean? 

• DEFIANT (adjective)
  The adjective DEFIANT has 1 sense:

1. boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

  Familiarity information: DEFIANT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEFIANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

Synonyms:

defiant; noncompliant

Context example:

a defiant attitude

Similar:

insubordinate; resistant; resistive (disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority)

obstreperous (noisily and stubbornly defiant)

recalcitrant (marked by stubborn resistance to authority)

Also:

difficult; unmanageable (hard to control)

disobedient (not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority)

insubordinate (not submissive to authority)

intractable (not tractable; difficult to manage or mold)

unwilling (not disposed or inclined toward)

Antonym:

compliant (inclined to comply)

Derivation:

defiance (a defiant act)

defiance (intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude)

defiance (a hostile challenge)

defy (resist or confront with resistance)

 Context examples 

"I don't intend to run away from a girl. Jo can't prevent my seeing her, and I shall stay and do it as long as I like," interrupted Laurie in a defiant tone.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She was a woman, now, and Martin noted that her wild, defiant beauty had improved, losing none of its wildness, while the defiance and the fire seemed more in control.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

She stood grandly defiant, a queenly figure, her eyes fixed upon his as if she would read his very soul.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I rose swiftly to my feet, and, I know, quite unconsciously assumed a defiant attitude.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

There was a final defiant clash of the long teeth.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“You haven't need to say so much, nor half so much, nor anything at all,” observed Uriah, half defiant, and half fawning.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He was a man of huge stature, dark-eyed and red-headed, with a peculiar half-humorous, half-defiant expression upon his bold, well-marked features.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She stared at us with defiant eyes, and then, suddenly recognising me, an expression of absolute astonishment came over her face.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A behavior disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior towards authority figures, manifested by a frequent loss of temper, arguing, becoming angry or vindictive, or other negativistic behaviors.

(Oppositional Defiant Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

He picked it up hastily with a defiant glance about him, as though the desolation were trying to rob him of it; and when he rose to his feet to stagger on into the day, it was included in the pack on his back.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)