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 Alex Caruso, one of the team’s veterans, was a bench guy, until he was tasked with defending Nikola Jokić during the Thunder’s series against the Denver Nuggets, and did about as good a job as anyone has ever done of shutting Jokić down. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 8 June 2025 Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, get an opening matchup with Chile, who failed to qualify the last time around during CONMEBOL. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 A day after the singer, 38, shocked fans by walking the 2025 American Music Awards red carpet with a blonde bob — a far departure from her trademark long locks — Pratt, 41, defended his wife against hate comments. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 28 May 2025 After seeing his pleas for peace talks or a ceasefire go unanswered for months, Trump conceded that he’s defended Putin in discussions over what to do next about Russia’s new attacks in Ukraine. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 27 May 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
  • The Marines are tasked with protecting federal facilities and personnel, according to a statement from U.S. Northern Command, and will operate under Task Force 51—a contingency unit created to coordinate military support for domestic emergencies.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 11 June 2025
  • The mission to protect and eventually eliminate the Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, marks the beginning of their ideological divide.
    — Jamie Lang, Variety, 10 June 2025
Definition of protect
Verb
  • But as cloud spend goes up, the need to justify cost efforts and demonstrate cost avoidance to execs will increase.
    — Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • His breezy accounts betray no anxiety to justify the expense of sending him around the world.
    — Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Despite headline commitments like the Global Biodiversity Framework’s promise to safeguard 30% of marine ecosystems by 2030, only 2.7% of the ocean is effectively protected today.
    — Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2025
Definition of safeguard
Verb
  • Prosecutors said the defendants had marketed gaming operations in the two states and helped internet cafes set and maintain terminals that operated the games, which could be played for credits.
    — Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
  • Recent polling suggests Trump maintains an unexpectedly strong foothold in the Garden State.
    — Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • Then guard Courtney Vandersloot drove up the court after a Fever turnover, lunged toward the basket with the ball in her hands and crashed directly into Aari McDonald.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started distributing food boxes on May 26 at three hubs guarded by private contractors inside Israeli military zones.
    — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
Definition of guard
Verb
  • One of the best ways to uphold network connectivity is to have multiple backup services in place that activate in the event of an outage.
    — Sander Barens, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The justices ruled 7-2 to uphold a Biden administration rule that regulates unserialized firearms called ghost guns.
    — Melissa Quinn June 9, CBS News, 9 June 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 16 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of defend for Spanish Speakers

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