defend

verb

di-ˈfend How to pronounce defend (audio)
Definition of defendnext
1
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to justify
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections she will pigheadedly defend any claim regardless of all evidence to the contrary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word defend different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of defend are guard, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When is guard a more appropriate choice than defend?

The meanings of guard and defend largely overlap; however, guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

When would protect be a good substitute for defend?

The synonyms protect and defend are sometimes interchangeable, but protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

When might safeguard be a better fit than defend?

Although the words safeguard and defend have much in common, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Where would shield be a reasonable alternative to defend?

The words shield and defend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defend Tiffany Stratton also successfully defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025 Tiffany Stratton defended the WWE Women’s Championship with a pinfall victory over Charotte Flair on Saturday night at WrestleMania 41. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2025 The letter comes more than a year before three of those five officials will seek to defend their positions in the 2026 election. —Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 20 Apr. 2025 Our biggest key against these guys was to defend the 3-point line and this team really has the ability to shoot it. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defend
  1. protect
  2. justify
  3. safeguard
  4. maintain
  5. guard
  6. uphold
Verb
  • See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Arkansas Senate on Wednesday night approved a bill that its supporters maintain would protect Arkansans from religious discrimination and its opponents counter targets LGBTQ+ people.
    — Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of protect
Verb
  • The myth that trans women are a danger to cis women is a grossly transphobic stereotype with almost no real-world justification, but Rowling pins most of her anti-trans arguments on it, using her experience as a survivor of domestic abuse to justify her prejudice.
    — Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The funding freezes and cuts have been imposed before the completion of full investigations, and different legal rationales have been offered to justify them.
    — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of justify
Verb
  • This will help safeguard your information from being intercepted by malicious actors.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Having a plan to manage it will help leaders safeguard their organizations when CRQCs arrive.
    — Scott Buchholz, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of safeguard
Verb
  • This substantial commitment reflects the scale of investment required to maintain competitive positioning in the rapidly evolving AI infrastructure market.
    — Maribel Lopez, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Illness prevented Howe from being in the dugout, but his team maintained its finely tuned pressing and relentless counter-pressing in his absence.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • The Commanders could move Andrew Wylie or Brandon Coleman to guard.
    — Ben Standig, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • His blocks more often come while guarding, as opposed to as a help defender.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of guard
Verb
  • Jena, Louisiana — An immigration judge in Louisiana on Friday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its effort to deport Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, upholding one of the deportation grounds cited by the government.
    — Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • In February 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit largely upheld Judge Failla’s decision, affirming the dismissal of the federal claims.
    — Andrea Tinianow, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of uphold

Browse Nearby Words

defects (from)
defend
defendable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defend. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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