Foo - In search of a word

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ParaWK4
12-07-08, 08:58 PM
Helping my son with homework - what is a word which means to do something mainly because others think you cannot.

x136
12-07-08, 09:00 PM
Spite? :)
pgoat
12-07-08, 09:00 PM
to disprove?
convince
contradict
surprise


these aren't great, but maybe a thesaurus might take it from here....

CbadRider
12-07-08, 09:02 PM
stubborn
determined
lanfarm
12-07-08, 09:03 PM
To "own" somone :D
ParaWK4
12-07-08, 09:04 PM
It's for Latin class - so I am thinking 'contra' something but even with dictionary and thesaurus, not coming up with anything great.
JoelS
12-07-08, 09:04 PM
in spite of. I think X got it.
ParaWK4
12-07-08, 09:08 PM
Maybe we are making it harder than it is and we'll just go with spite. Thanks for the help.
x136
12-07-08, 09:10 PM
in spite of. I think X got it.I was thinking along the lines of "out of spite" ("You don't think I can do it? Well eff you, I'm going to do it anyway!"), but "in spite of" works as well.
SingingSabre
12-07-08, 09:11 PM
Contradictus. :)
pgoat
12-07-08, 09:13 PM
"Oh snap?":innocent:
SingingSabre
12-07-08, 09:14 PM
"Oh snap?":innocent:

Osnappicisus!
Grumpy McTrumpy
12-07-08, 09:15 PM
contrarianism.
Grumpy McTrumpy
12-07-08, 09:15 PM
transgress.
x136
12-07-08, 09:18 PM
Antidisestablishmentarianism.
Jasper Storm
12-07-08, 09:18 PM
"Showin' them *******s"
PlatyPius
12-07-08, 09:21 PM
Reacting to negative reinforcement. :p
Wordbiker
12-07-08, 10:57 PM
Helping my son with homework - what is a word which means to do something mainly because others think you cannot.

American. :D
gbcb
12-07-08, 11:14 PM
It doesn't sound like it's exactly what you're looking for, but "contrarian" -- going against popular opinion or common practice -- could work

Edit: Grumpy beat me to it