<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object)<ul><li>defied</li><li>defying</li><li>to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: Love drives the characters to ignore their family feud and defy parental authority.</li><li>The artist defies conventional categories by blending very different styles in her work.</li><li>Synonyms: scorn, flout, brave, dare</li><li>to offer effective resistance to; make virtually impossible: Their strategic position is helped by having a fort that defies attack.</li><li>The facts were so complex that they defied simple explanation.</li><li>to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.</li><li>Archaic: to challenge to a combat or contest.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>(plural defies)<ul><li>a challenge; a defiance.</li></ul></li></ul>