From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdefiantde‧fi‧ant /dɪˈfaɪənt/ adjective DISOBEYclearly refusing to do what someone tells you to do Mark smashed a fist on the desk in a defiant gesture. —defiantly adverb
Examples from the Corpus
defiant• Her reply was clear and defiant.• The building oozed a melancholy yet defiant air, cornered by an unforgiving landscape with which it refused to make any compromises.• It is easier to be soothing with a highly sensitive child who is clingy and frightened than with a defiant child.• Many defiant children are also unusually clever; figuring out ways to defeat your most sophisticated arguments.• Some defiant children are very shy.• The big bird squatted quietly against Rima's chest, but her eyes held a sulky, defiant glare.• "Nothing is going to change, " said a defiant Miller after his trial.• Demonstrators became increasingly defiant of police controls.• He is one of the defiant ones.• Defiant party members openly challenged the leadership.• But it was a defiant rather than a triumphant gesture.• No, he said - and he was defiant - there was no need.Origin defiant (1500-1600) French défiant, present participle of défier; → DEFY 