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Defiant

//dɪˈfaɪənt// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Defying.

    "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. 2
    Boldly resisting opposition.

    "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."

Adjective
  1. 1
    boldly resisting authority or an opposing force wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    One who defies opposition.

    "Countries condemning South Africa, Portugal and Rhodesia still find it necessary to trade with these defiants against so-called world opinion."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French défiant, from the verb défier. Doublet of diffident. By surface analysis, def(i) + -ant.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French défiant, from the verb défier. Doublet of diffident. By surface analysis, def(i) + -ant.

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