DEFEND Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

defend

verb

di-ˈfend

Definition of defend next

as in to protect

to drive danger or attack away from a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 The Scottish lawmaker defended the meeting once more on Monday, saying Mandelson shouldn’t have been in office in the first place. —

Callum Sutherland, Time, 9 Feb. 2026 The hearing at the Museum of the Bible centered on antisemitism on college campuses and the role of state and local officials in defending religious liberty. —

Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 But the government’s lawyer seemed to stumble at times, struggling to defend Hegseth’s actions. —

Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026 Zelenskyy on Sunday defended Ukraine's attacks deep inside Russia. —

David Brennan, ABC News, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defend

Verb

Ratcliffe’s comments align with the arguments made by Britain’s right-wing populist Reform UK party, which ties its anti-immigrant message to protecting the country.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Medical workers sympathetic to the uprising, meanwhile, have also changed the names and injuries listed on some patients’ medical charts, to protect their identities from authorities.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026

Definition of protect

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“Defend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defend. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 12 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

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