Defy example sentences
Related (12): resist, challenge, oppose, rebel, disobey, confront, flout, transgress, insubordination, defiance, rebellious, obstinate
"Defy" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- defy expectations
- defy logic
- defy the odds
- defy authority
- defy convention
- defy gravity
- defy description
- defy categorization
- defy belief
- defy explanation
Examples by Level
A1
- The child will defy her mother and eat the candy anyway.
- He chose to defy the rule because he didn't agree with it.
A2
- She decided to defy her family's wishes and study art instead of medicine.
- The small country refused to defy international pressure and maintained its independence.
B1
- Looking back, it seems crazy that we thought we could defy the principal and get away with it.
- There's something almost admirable about people who defy convention without making a big deal about it.
B2
- The results of the study defy conventional wisdom in ways that surprised even the researchers themselves.
- She'd spent years trying to defy expectations, only to realize she was exhausted from the effort.
C1
- What we often call progress requires individuals willing to defy the prevailing orthodoxy, regardless of personal cost.
- The phenomenon continues to defy rational explanation, leaving scientists to question their fundamental assumptions.
C2
- There exists a peculiar courage in those who defy not out of rebellion, but out of an almost quiet certainty that another way must exist.
- The text's refusal to defy easy interpretation — its deliberate opacity — became its most compelling feature.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- My kid tried to defy bedtime again last night and fell asleep at dinner.
- The weather decided to defy the forecast completely — we got snow instead of rain.
💼 Workplace
- She chose to defy the dress code and nobody said anything because she's the best performer on the team.
- The intern managed to defy every expectation we had about entry-level work.
📊 Business
- The startup's decision to defy market trends and focus on sustainability actually increased their profit margins.
- Our competitor tried to defy industry standards, and it cost them millions.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- I wanted to defy my budget and buy the expensive version, but I grabbed the sale item instead.
- This product seems to defy the price-to-quality ratio I usually see in this category.
✈️ Travel
- The flight managed to defy all odds and arrived early despite the terrible weather.
- Traveling solo to a country where you don't speak the language is a way to defy your own comfort zone.
📚 Education
- The student chose to defy the traditional essay format and submitted a podcast instead.
- Teachers appreciate students who defy assumptions about what they're capable of learning.
❤️ Relationships
- We decided to defy everyone's predictions and actually made it work.
- He was willing to defy his entire family to be with her, and that's when she knew he was serious.
📰 News / Politics
- The senator's vote to defy her party's position shocked everyone and made national headlines.
- Activists continue to defy government restrictions on public assembly.
💻 Technology
- The new algorithm seems to defy the limitations we thought were built into the system.
- Early adopters who chose to defy the mainstream and use this platform are now ahead of the curve.
📝 Formal Writing
- The research findings defy the previously established theoretical framework and warrant further investigation.
- These anomalies defy conventional explanation and suggest the need for revised methodological approaches.