defiance
Challenging the powerful
Defiance is bold resistance or open challenge to authority, opposition, or power.
To act in defiance of rules or expectations is to deliberately disregard them.
The attitude combines refusal to submit with willingness to face consequences: She stared back in defiance.
Defiance can be admirable rebellion or stubborn obstruction, depending on context.
Defying workplace authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- mutinyRevolt against authority
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
uprising · sedition · noncompliance · unruliness · dissent · nonconformity · recalcitrance · contumacy
Fearless readiness to act
- braveryBoldness before danger
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- daringAdventurous courage
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
nerve · guts · pluck · moxie · spunk · mettle · fortitude · intrepidity
Active resistance or dissent
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- blockadeSealing off a place
- boycottOrganized economic protest
noncompliance · hindrance · barrier · counteraction · obstinacy · stubbornness · intransigence · immovability
Test of ability
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
gauntlet · opposition · struggle · contest · dare · provocation · taunt · antagonism
Scornful disregard
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- disrespectLack of regard
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
sneer · ridicule · disparagement · haughtiness · insolence · impudence · effrontery · brazenness
Refusal to accept reality
- copingManaging under strain
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- displacementRemoval from usual location
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- mutinyRevolt against authority
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
revolt · uprising · sedition · noncompliance · unruliness · dissent · nonconformity · recalcitrance · contumacy · waywardness
boldness
Fearless readiness to act
fearlessness · nerve · guts · pluck · moxie · spunk · mettle · fortitude · intrepidity · valor
opposition
Active resistance or dissent
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- blockadeSealing off a place
boycott · noncompliance · hindrance · barrier · counteraction · obstinacy · stubbornness · intransigence · immovability · steadfastness
challenge
Test of ability
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
standoff · gauntlet · opposition · struggle · contest · dare · provocation · taunt · antagonism · incitement
disdain
Scornful disregard
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- disrespectLack of regard
mockery · sneer · ridicule · disparagement · haughtiness · insolence · impudence · effrontery · brazenness · flaunting
denial
Refusal to accept reality
- copingManaging under strain
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- projectionSomething that extends outward
displacement · compensation · self-assertion · ego defense · acting out
- bratty behaviortantrum, whining, pouting, sulking, backtalk
- conflict responsesavoidance, confrontation, compromise, accommodation, aggression
- defiancedisobedience, insubordination, noncompliance, rebellion, disobey
- Parenting Strugglestantrums, bedtime battles, sibling rivalry, picky eaters, potty training
- teen behavioreye rolling, back talk, backtalk, door slamming, moodiness
- toddler behaviortantrums, whining, pouting, saying no, refusal
defianceobedience
Compliance with authority
compliance · submission · acquiescence · subordination · deference
defiancesubmissiveness
Disposition to obey others
meekness · subservience · passivity · humility · timidity
defiancecooperation
Joint action toward shared aims
agreeability · amiability · conciliation · accommodation · amenability