Defiant and Deferential
Opposite meaning words
Defiant
Defiant adjective - Given to resisting authority or another's control.
Usage example: the defiant puppy refused to let go of the football
Deferential is an antonym for defiant.
Deferential
Deferential adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.
Defiant is an antonym for deferential.
Cite this Source
Deferential and Defiant. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defiant/deferential
Defiant & Deferential. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defiant/deferential>.
Deferential or Defiant. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defiant/deferential.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defiant" and "deferential" have occurred on timeline