Defy and Take

Defy

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

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

Nearby Words: defied, defying

Take verb - To reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms.

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Defy and take are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Defy" instead a verb "Take".

Nearby Words: taking, taken, taker

people	defy people	take people
role	defy role	take role
control	defy control	take control
place	defy place	take place
Other words: time, command, orders.

They take care of the wounded Pu Sheng and grieve when he dies, are repentant at essentially having caused the death of two of the girls, and in the end they decide to play the trope straight and defy the stereotype, by taking the students' place.

Source: Film / Flowers of War
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.

Source: More Hero Than Thou
The Demi-Fiend can side with one of these saviors or defy all three and take a fourth option or fifth option.

Source: Dueling Messiahs

Cite this Source

Take and Defy. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defy/take

Defy & Take. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defy/take>.

Take or Defy. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defy/take.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defy" and "take" have occurred on timeline