to flout

Examples

• All

• Meanwhile, corruption flourishes, and local officials openly flout environmental laws and regulations.

  Academic text (2008)

• But we had a president who flouted the law, was hostile to norms, exploited division and hate.

• No longer can we flout God.

  Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004)

• For you to flout authority will only encourage them to do the same.

  Dead Man Walking (1995)

• If they consistently flout the rules, they can simply be shut down.

  Academic text (2011)

• A market exists among employers willing to flout the law in order to hire cheap labor.

  Blog text (1)

• Obama shows a willingness to flout the law when he knows he can get away with it.

  Blog text (24)

• We cannot be truly Christian people so long as we flout the central teachings of Jesus: brotherly love and the Golden Rule.

  Academic text (2003)

• Do you think that's an accurate characterization of how history is going to look at these people who kind of flouted what may be unjust laws?

• Local businesses often flout health regulations, putting customers at risk.

Synonyms

V

to violate

vsto flout

627 4.4

Break a law, rule, agreement, or promise

adds open contempt and ridicule to simple rule breaking

D

to defy

vsto flout

178 3.7

Openly refuse to obey someone or seem to resist a force like time

shows open contempt rather than simply refusing or challenging

D

to disobey

vsto flout

126 3.7

To refuse to follow rules or orders from someone in charge

involves open contempt or mockery beyond mere refusal

O

to offend

vsto flout

65 4.6

Break a law, rule, contract or promise

focuses on showing contempt openly rather than simply violating rules

G

to go rogue

vsto flout

19 7.5

To act alone and ignore rules or orders

is more about scornful public disrespect than independent action

F

to fly in the face of

vsto flout

17 7.6

Openly oppose something, often against common sense or tradition

expresses contempt openly rather than only contradicting

C

to contravene

vsto flout

• Formal

2 8.2

To break a law, rule, or agreement

carries a tone of public scorn or intentional disrespect

F

to fly in the teeth of

vsto flout

• Archaic

8.6

To openly go against usual rules or advice

shows contempt and mockery rather than merely opposing

I

to infract

vsto flout

• Archaic

9.9

To break a law, rule, contract, or promise

adds public contempt and deliberate mockery to mere breaking

Antonyms

O

to obey

411 1.0

Do what someone in charge tells you or follow a rule

How Defiant

to defy

178 3.7

to flout

12 7.9

mock

• Offensive

27 5.5

to disregard

119 3.9

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology