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defier

defier

7.1
A person who openly refuses to obey rules or authority
  • noun
  • /dɪˈfaɪər/
translation icon : desafiante
  • And I warn you, that a wicked law, like cholera, destroys everyone it touches its upholders as well as its defiers.
  • death defier

Examples

  • Moreover, this framework's insistence on occurrent processes is not the defier of Leibniz: the occurrence is presented as antithetical to the dispositional.

    Blog text (14)
  • The defier stood up at the meeting to voice his opposition to the new policy.

  • Defier of the laws of reason.

  • Defier of the laws of reason.

  • So we now have our groups, we don't have our defier, and now we can start doing some algebra.

  • As a well-known defier of societal norms, she often challenged the expectations placed upon her.

  • The defier rallied others to protest against the unjust rules imposed by the authorities.

Synonyms

rebel
vsdefier
658 3.6

A person who acts against the government or people in power

is wider, applying to open challenge beyond just breaking rules
dissident
vsdefier
70 7.5

A person who speaks against the government or its leaders and may be punished

is broader, applying to any open challenge to authority beyond politics
protestor
vsdefier
  • US
57 3.0

A person who joins others in public to show strong disagreement

is about open personal challenge to authority, not only public demonstration
dissenter
vsdefier
22 7.2

A person who disagrees with common ideas or with those in charge

is the more general open challenger of rules and expectations
objector
vsdefier
15 5.1

A person who disagrees with a law or plan and says so

is more confrontational and openly challenges authority rather than just disapproving
resister
vsdefier
6 6.2

A person who opposes authority or control

is broader, covering any open challenge not only sustained resistance
opposer
vsdefier
2 4.5

A person who speaks out against a plan or idea

is more about openly challenging authority and expectations specifically
oppositionist
vsdefier
1 7.4

A person who acts against a government or its rules, like a protester

is a lone open challenger to authority and expectations rather than group opposition
bucker
vsdefier
  • US
9.1

A person who openly refuses to follow rules or authority

is the general term for openly challenging authority and expectations
remonstrant
vsdefier
  • Formal
9.9

A person who objects publicly to something

is the everyday open challenger rather than formal official objection
flouter
vsdefier
8.9

A person who openly breaks rules or shows no respect for people in charge

is more about active direct resistance rather than mocking or contempt

Antonyms

295 1.6

A person who supports a leader and accepts their direction

How Defiant

revolutionary
48 5.8
insurgent
  • Literature
93 8.6
rebel
658 3.6
defier
7.1
protester
328 2.9
dissenter
22 7.2
follower
295 1.6

Surface Forms

defier singular
defiers plural

Morphology

defier = defy (transparent) = defy + er

The noun is a regular agentive formation from the verb 'defy' with the expected meaning 'one who defies'.

Etymology

The word defier comes from the action word defy, and defy has the part de- meaning 'not' or 'away' plus a part like faith meaning 'trust'. So a defier is someone who goes against trust or rules, which is why it means a person who openly resists or challenges authority.