defy

/dɪˈfaɪ/
verb
  1. To openly resist or refuse to obey someone or something, especially an authority or rule.
    • The teenager decided to defy her parents' curfew and stay out late.
    • He defied the doctor's orders and went back to work too soon.
    • Protesters gathered to defy the government's new law.
  2. To challenge or dare someone to do something, often to prove they can.
    • She defied her classmates to climb the tallest tree in the park.
    • The coach defied the team to finish the race in under an hour.
    • I defy you to find a better pizza in this town.
  3. To be so extreme or unusual that something seems impossible or very difficult to achieve.
    • The acrobat's performance defied belief with its incredible balance.
    • Her kindness in the face of cruelty defies explanation.
    • The ancient building has defied the ravages of time for centuries.
Antonyms
What does "defy" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean