defying
Standing firmly against
Defying is the present participle of defy—to resist, challenge, or refuse to submit to authority or convention.
Someone defying orders disobeys them openly.
Defying expectations means performing contrary to what was predicted.
Defying logic or gravity suggests doing something that seems impossible: The acrobat seemed to be defying the laws of physics.
Addressing directly
- opposingStanding against something
- challengingHard to accomplish
- facingDirected toward something
- resistingActively opposing pressure
withstanding · countering · braving · flouting · bucking · contesting · disputing · combating
Authority defier
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- insurgentOne who revolts
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
maverick · nonconformist · iconoclast · subversive · agitator · mutineer · dissenter · radical
Resisting authority or control
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- insubordinateDefying rightful authority
- noncompliantFailing to conform
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
obstinate · recalcitrant · unyielding · stubborn · intransigent · contrary · obdurate · adamant
Showing courage despite fear
- fearlessLacking any apprehension
- boldCourageous and daring
- daringAdventurous courage
- audaciousRecklessly or disrespectfully fearless
undaunted · unflinching · intrepid · valiant · courageous · dauntless · unafraid · gutsy
Causing mild shock
- unprecedentedNever having occurred before
- unlikelyNot apt to happen
- improbableNot likely true
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
unconventional · remarkable · extraordinary · exceptional · anomalous · atypical · unorthodox · against the odds
confronting
Addressing directly
- opposingStanding against something
- challengingHard to accomplish
- facingDirected toward something
resisting · withstanding · countering · braving · flouting · bucking · contesting · disputing · combating · fighting
rebel
Authority defier
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- insurgentOne who revolts
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
renegade · maverick · nonconformist · iconoclast · subversive · agitator · mutineer · dissenter · radical · anarchist
rebellious
Resisting authority or control
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- insubordinateDefying rightful authority
- noncompliantFailing to conform
uncooperative · obstinate · recalcitrant · unyielding · stubborn · intransigent · contrary · obdurate · adamant · unbending
brave
Showing courage despite fear
audacious · undaunted · unflinching · intrepid · valiant · courageous · dauntless · unafraid · gutsy · plucky
surprising
Causing mild shock
- unprecedentedNever having occurred before
- unlikelyNot apt to happen
- improbableNot likely true
unexpected · unconventional · remarkable · extraordinary · exceptional · anomalous · atypical · unorthodox · against the odds · overcoming
- standing upstanding up, standing ground, speaking out, speaking truth, fighting back
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- removalremove, elimination, delete, erasing, erase
- troublemakingtroublemaker, troublemaking, instigate, agitator, instigating
defyingobeying
Following directives given
complying · following · heeding · submitting · conforming
defyingsurrendering
Ceasing to resist
submitting · yielding · capitulating · acquiescing · succumbing
defyingconforming
Meeting accepted standards
complying · toeing the line · falling in line · going along with · fitting in
- defying gravityOvercoming downward force
- death defyingRisking life itself
- death-defying acts
- defying expectationsActing against predictions
defy, defiant, defiance, undefeated, undefined, indefinitely, indefensible, defied, indefatigable