defiance
/dɪˈfaɪəns/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfaɪəns/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈfī-ən(t)s dē-/ (ame, mw)
defiance — noun
1. the attitude or behaviour of someone who makes it clear that they will not follo
the attitude or behaviour of someone who makes it clear that they will not follow the orders or wishes of a person, group, or rule that has power over them, often in a way that openly challenges that authority
The teenager slammed the door in defiance of her mother's order to clean her room.
fixed phrase: in defiance of
Despite the court's ruling, the factory continued operating in open defiance of the law.
collocation: open defiance
When the principal told the students to sit, they remained standing in defiance.
The workers went on strike in defiance of the company's new safety rules.
Keiko dyed her hair pink as an act of defiance against the school dress code.
- rebellion
stronger and more active; often implies organized resistance against authority, not just a single act
- resistance
broader term; can be passive or active, and does not necessarily involve open challenge
- insubordination
specifically about refusing to follow orders from a person in a higher position, especially in workplace or military contexts
- disobedience
more general; does not always imply the open, deliberate challenge that defiance suggests
- obedience
following orders or rules willingly
- submission
accepting the authority or control of another without resistance
- compliance
acting in accordance with a rule, request, or law
文法句型
in defiance of [something]
an act of defiance
in open defiance
用法筆記
Common in the fixed phrase 'in defiance of' (meaning 'against or in spite of an order, rule, or wish'), and often paired with 'act of' or 'gesture of' to describe a specific instance of this behaviour.