Nominal Forms
Infinitive: to defy
Participle: defied
Gerund: defying
Cognates
-
Indicative
Present
| I | defy |
| you | defy |
| he;she;it | defies |
| we | defy |
| you | defy |
| they | defy |
Perfect
| I | have defied |
| you | have defied |
| he;she;it | has defied |
| we | have defied |
| you | have defied |
| they | have defied |
Past
| I | defied |
| you | defied |
| he;she;it | defied |
| we | defied |
| you | defied |
| they | defied |
Pluperfect
| I | had defied |
| you | had defied |
| he;she;it | had defied |
| we | had defied |
| you | had defied |
| they | had defied |
Future
| I | will defy |
| you | will defy |
| he;she;it | will defy |
| we | will defy |
| you | will defy |
| they | will defy |
Future Perfect
| I | will have defied |
| you | will have defied |
| he;she;it | will have defied |
| we | will have defied |
| you | will have defied |
| they | will have defied |
Subjunctive
Present
| I | defy |
| you | defy |
| he;she;it | defy |
| we | defy |
| you | defy |
| they | defy |
Perfect
| I | have defied |
| you | have defied |
| he;she;it | have defied |
| we | have defied |
| you | have defied |
| they | have defied |
Imperfect
| I | defied |
| you | defied |
| he;she;it | defied |
| we | defied |
| you | defied |
| they | defied |
Pluperfect
| I | had defied |
| you | had defied |
| he;she;it | had defied |
| we | had defied |
| you | had defied |
| they | had defied |
Conditional
Present
| I | would defy |
| you | would defy |
| he;she;it | would defy |
| we | would defy |
| you | would defy |
| they | would defy |
Perfect
| I | would have defied |
| you | would have defied |
| he;she;it | would have defied |
| we | would have defied |
| you | would have defied |
| they | would have defied |
Imperative
| you | defy |
| we | Let's defy |
| you | defy |
Verbs conjugated like 'defy'
accompany,
acetify,
acidify,
adsignify,
affy,
alacrify,
alkalify,
ally,
amnesty,
amplify,
angelify,
anglicify,
anglify,
apology,
apply,
arefy,
argufy,
astony,
atrophy,
avowtry, etc. (List truncated at 20 verbs)
Verbs similar to 'defy'
deify,
deny,
ædify,
affy,
arefy,
daff,
day,
dead,
deaf,
deal,
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- dare
- disobey, beard, brave, insult, mock, challenge, despise, flout
- oppose
- face, resist, withstand
Antonyms
- to accept instruction or command
- disobey, rebel, obey, violate
- oppose
- approve, applaud, aid, attest
Additional Information
Phrasal Verbs
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. See: Old French '
desfier'.
Verbs referencing "defy"
Portuguese
desafiar, Spanish
desafiar, Esperanto
defii.
Sample Sentences
-
[...] as a teller of anecdotes and cracker of jokes. Yet here were the very men who had laughed the loudest at his jests, now flourishing their fists in his face, loading him with imprecations, and defying him to his teeth as a villain !
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
Cassy, who had glided out of her place of concealment, and, by overhearing, learned the sacrifice that had been made for her and Emmeline, had been there, the night before, defying the danger of detection; and, moved by the last few words which the affectionate soul had yet strength to breathe, the long winter of despair, the ice of years, had given way, and the dark, [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
Deeds of heroism are wrought here more than those of romance, when defying torture, and braving death itself, the fugitive voluntarily threads his way back to the terrors and perils of that dark land, that he may bring out his sister, or mother, or wife.
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)