defiantly

D2E1F4I1A1N1T1L1Y4
UK/dɪˈfaɪ(j)əntli/

adverb

In a defiant manner.

Less commonScrabble 16

Meanings

defiantly1

adverbdefiantly (comparative more defiantly, superlative most defiantly)

comparative more defiantly · superlative most defiantly

  1. In a defiant manner.

    "And I know she's my aunt, but she needn't pick at me all the time," she added defiantly.

    1904, Margaret Sidney, chapter 15, in Five Little Peppers and their Friends
    2 more examples

    The sole image of Henry Cavendish captured in his lifetime shows an aristocratic-looking man in a frock coat, frilled shirt-wrists, and white stockings, wearing a knocker-tailed periwig under a black three-cornered hat. This was a defiantly unchic style of dress even in the late 1700s, and he wore the same outfit every day of his adult life.

    2015, Steve Silberman, chapter 1, in Megan Newman, editor, NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity, New York: Avery, →ISBN, page 20

    "For the statement, in the form in which I offered it, Mr. President, I have no retraction or apology to offer, and only such explanation as I have lately given." "Coventry! Coventry!" came the insistent call. "Well, then, you can send me to Coventry, you friends of Darrin, if you feel yourselves justified in doing it!" quivered Midshipman Jetson, tossing his head and glaring defiantly around the room.

    2006, H. Irving Hancock, Dave Darrin's Third Year at Annapolis, →ISBN, page 159

defiantly2

adverb
  1. misspellingMisspelling of definitely.

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbin a rebellious manner

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Translations

Finnish uhmakkaasti
  • uhmakkaastiin a defiant manner
Latin contumāciter
  • contumāciterin a defiant manner
Cite this entry
APA

defiantly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defiantly

MLA

“defiantly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defiantly. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “defiantly,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defiantly.

Source: defiantly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.