Defy
Defy verb - To go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of.
Use
Use verb - To put into action or service.
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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He understands perfectly how his world and family work and can use or defy it depending on the situation.
Source: Manga / Meru Puri -
Ironic Echo: Marcus's use of it shows that he has taken it seriously, whereas Will prefers to defy it.
Source: Literature / About a Boy - According to George Takei's autobiography, the writer of that episode asked him whether he'd rather use a katana or a rapier, and Takei chose the rapier to defy the stereotype.
Source: All Asians Know Martial Arts
Cite this Source
Use and Defy. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defy/use
Defy & Use. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defy/use>.
Use or Defy. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defy/use.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defy" and "use" have occurred on timeline