To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
Used in a Sentence
defies
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for defies.
Editorial note
People find Gladwell infuriating because he somewhat defies categorization and tries to take a very neutral, nonjudgemental tone.
Examples15
Definitions3
Parts of speech1
Quick take
To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of defies gathered in one view.
(transitive) To refuse to obey.
(transitive) To challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for defies.
verb
To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
verb
(transitive) To refuse to obey.
verb
(transitive) To challenge (someone) or brave (a hazard or opposition).
Example sentences
People find Gladwell infuriating because he somewhat defies categorization and tries to take a very neutral, nonjudgemental tone.
Talk about cruel punishments, locking up someone for two fucking robberies without any deaths for nearly a century is unreasonable, cruel and defies everything our civilization stands for.
Certainly for me, a tilted bowl of fruit that defies logic is more interesting than a boring bowl of fruit.
That is absolute bunk that defies the basic principles of computational complexity and information theory in almost every possible way.
It takes a lot of guts to create a skunkworks, because it defies all conventional notions of how to do things.
The ability to create a slick, mass-market useable web-browser tablet for $200 (or even $300) defies the current laws of marketplace economics.
People buying more expensive food because it's healthier and tastes better, that defies logic.
It defies the common wisdom against putting all your eggs in one basket.
The outcome defies typical logic, and so news websites keep running the story.
As a concept, it defies the strict ordering of the left-right spectrum.
The nickel-and-diming, even outright scamming on these platforms defies the imagination.
The Any -> Unit definitely defies the current name.
Quote examples
Always complaining about the bureaucracy and lack of freedom of "socialist" countries, yet maintaining this absurd professional licensing that defies parody.
One of the problems with wine as an investment is it is not very liquid - sorry I could not help myself with this one:) Actually the bigger problems are storage costs (the back of your cupboard just won’t cut it) and the less than reliable advice you will get buying in the futures market (the number of “vintages of the century” we have had in the last 15 years defies statistical plausibility).
I'm in Norway and not freaked out either, but I'm mildly entertained by the news coverage: - The TV2 news' only comment from the locals, paraphrased as "What the fuck was that?" ("Ka i hælvete va det?") - UFOologists claiming that "this defies physics as we know it".
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use defies in a sentence?
People find Gladwell infuriating because he somewhat defies categorization and tries to take a very neutral, nonjudgemental tone.
What does defies mean?
To not conform to or follow a pattern, set of rules or expectations.
What part of speech is defies?
defies is commonly used as verb.