Synonyms for defiant
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Rebellious
rebellious, disobedient, recalcitrant, truculent, insubordinate, mutinous, obstreperous, resistant, refractory, contumacious, stubborn, unruly, ungovernable
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Defying.
- adj. 2
Boldly resisting opposition.
Related words
- Word family
- defiantly defiance
- Phrases
- oppositional defiant disordered oppositionally defiant
Example sentences
- rebellious Among the people, rebellious sentiments are growing.
- disobedient Disobedient boys can not be happy in this world.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| defiant | rising | |
| rebellious | rising | |
| disobedient | rising | |
| recalcitrant | rising | |
| truculent | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- bold1
- 6 letters
- daring2, unruly3
- 7 letters
- dareful
- 8 letters
- stubborn2, mutinous3
- 9 letters
- resistant3, truculent3
- 10 letters
- rebellious3, refractory4
- 11 letters
- disobedient5
- 12 letters
- recalcitrant4, ungovernable5, obstreperous4, contumacious
- 13 letters
- insubordinate5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (daring2 = 2 syllables).