defy
/dɪˈfaɪ/verb
To openly resist or stand up to a person, rule, or danger.
Example sentences
- “The climbers defied the storm and pushed on toward the summit.”
- “She defied her parents' wishes and moved abroad to study art.”
Also appears in 'defy description' and 'defy gravity', where it means to escape or resist rather than to disobey.