half-defiant

Coe, battling obesity and planted firmly on a stool for nearly two hours Thursday, is half-apologetic, half-defiant.

In concert: David Allan Coe at Cancun Cantina Scott Galupo 2011

Coe, battling obesity and planted firmly on a stool for nearly two hours Thursday, is half-apologetic, half-defiant.

Exiled from Nashville, ribald David Allan Coe can still laugh at his lyrics Scott Galupo 2011

When the Cleveland Orchestra nailed down its young music director, Franz Welser-Möst, to a similarly long contract, it was as a half-defiant gesture of support for a conductor not everyone thought was the best leader for the ensemble.

Conducting notes Anne Midgette 2011

Lucien gave the couple a distant bow and a half-humbled half-defiant glance; then he turned away into a cross-country road in search of some farmhouse, where he might make a breakfast on milk and bread, and rest awhile, and think quietly over the future.

Eve and David 2007

There was the rustle of a gown; Ayacanora sprang from him with a little cry, and stood, half-trembling, half-defiant, as if to say, “He is mine now; no one dare part him from me!”

Westward Ho! 2007

Lucien gave the couple a distant bow and a half-humbled half-defiant glance; then he turned away into a cross-country road in search of some farmhouse, where he might make a breakfast on milk and bread, and rest awhile, and think quietly over the future.

Eve and David 2007

He turned his head and looked up at her suddenly, half-bewildered, half-defiant.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes Gabaldon, Diana 2005

Those who know the natives best were taken by surprise, and are compelled to recognise that a restive, half-sullen, half-defiant spirit is abroad among them, and that the task of governing them may not be the easy thing which it has been since the days of

The Hawaiian Archipelago Isabella Lucy 2004

He stood in the center of the room, cowering and scowling as he said this, and looked round with a glance half-defiant, half-fearful, as if he expected to see some dreadful form in the dusky recesses of the desolate chamber.

The Evil Guest 2003

Mary Small would definitely smoke, half-defiant, half-guilty.

A Letter of Mary King, Laurie R. 1996