Attempt and Defy

Attempt

Attempt verb - To make an effort to do.

Defy and attempt are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Defy" instead a verb "Attempt".

Nearby Words: attempted, attempting

Defy

Defy verb - To go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of.

Attempt and defy are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Attempt" instead a verb "Defy".

Nearby Words: defied, defying

Common collocations

people attempt people defy people
control attempt control defy control
time attempt time defy time
explanation attempt explanation defy explanation
Other words: rules.

Both words in one sentence

  • Minecraft: Story Mode: Magnus and Ellegaard attempt to defy this, telling Jesse that s/he should go check on the survivors instead of staying with them, but Jesse can choose to ignore this request and kneel beside them until they pass away.
  • However, this does not always settle the fight, even when Bob's authority is beyond question: Charlie may defy the order and go on arguing, or attempt to take the role by force.
  • An attempt to defy this trope gone horribly wrong resulted in Ghost, who was a version of Byakuran from an alternate timeline that was brought over to the main timeline.
Cite this Source
Defy and Attempt. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/attempt/defy
Attempt & Defy. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/attempt/defy>.
Defy or Attempt. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/attempt/defy.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "attempt" and "defy" have occurred on timeline