Synonyms for defend
dɪˈfɛndde·fend

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

2. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

3. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

4. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

5. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

6. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

7. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

8. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

9. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

10. defendverb

    Antonyms:
    attack

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defend

   Keep, signifying generally to have and retain in possession, is the terse, strong Saxon term for many acts which are more exactly discriminated by other words. We keep, observe, or celebrate a festival; we keep or hold a prisoner in custody; we keep or preserve silence, keep the peace, preserve order — preserve being the more formal word; we keep or maintain a horse, a servant, etc.; a man supports his family; we keep or obey a commandment; keep or fulfil a promise. In the expressions to keep a secret, keep one's own counsel, keep faith, or keep the faith, such words as preserve or maintain could not be substituted without loss. A person keeps a shop or store, conducts or carries on a business; he keeps or carries a certain line of goods; we may keep or restrain one from folly, crime, or violence; we keep from or refrain from evil, ourselves. Keep in the sense of guard or defend implies that the defense is effectual. Compare CELEBRATE; RESTRAIN.

   Synonyms:
   carry, carry on, celebrate, conduct, detain, fulfil, guard, hold, keep, maintain, obey, observe, preserve, protect, refrain, restrain, retain, support, sustain, withhold

   Preposition:
   Keep in hand, in mind, in or within the house; from evil; out of mischief; keep to the subject; keep for a person, an occasion, etc.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.5 / 2 votes

1. defend, support, fend forverb

   argue or speak in defense of

   "She supported the motion to strike"

   Synonyms:
   fight, digest, abide, tolerate, support, oppose, suffer, plunk for, hold up, endure, guard, stick out, confirm, fend for, patronise, back, back up, keep going, put up, corroborate, endorse, stomach, represent, fight back, bear out, affirm, subscribe, brook, indorse, patronage, stand, sustain, maintain, fight down, patronize, underpin, substantiate, hold, plump for, champion, bear

   Antonyms:
   attack, prosecute, assail

2. defendverb

   be on the defensive; act against an attack

   Synonyms:
   represent, oppose, maintain, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight down

   Antonyms:
   prosecute, assail, attack

3. defend, guard, holdverb

   protect against a challenge or attack

   "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"

   Synonyms:
   fight, book, retain, moderate, view as, support, apply, hold back, harbour, take hold, bind, deem, hold up, arrest, guard, take, have, concord, check, make, fend for, take for, go for, throw, defy, control, harbor, oppose, keep, obligate, ward, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, nurse, accommodate, represent, curb, fight back, confine, have got, restrain, withstand, agree, hold in, halt, contain, obtain, maintain, fight down, oblige, concur, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, admit, hold, declare, champion, bear

   Antonyms:
   prosecute, attack, assail

4. fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defendverb

   fight against or resist strongly

   "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!"

   Synonyms:
   fight, play off, counterbalance, represent, agitate, champion, press, support, guard, hold, campaign, oppose, struggle, match, react, pit, controvert, fend for, contradict, contend, maintain, fight down, fight back, crusade, push

   Antonyms:
   assail, attack, prosecute

5. champion, defendverb

   protect or fight for as a champion

   Synonyms:
   represent, oppose, maintain, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight down

   Antonyms:
   attack, prosecute, assail

6. defend, representverb

   be the defense counsel for someone in a trial

   "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant"

   Synonyms:
   fight, stand for, act, typify, play, be, represent, champion, support, guard, hold, comprise, symbolise, interpret, map, fend for, exemplify, maintain, correspond, lay out, make up, symbolize, fight down, fight back, stage, oppose, present, constitute

   Antonyms:
   prosecute, assail, attack

7. maintain, defendverb

   state or assert

   "He maintained his innocence"

   Synonyms:
   fight, asseverate, keep up, keep, conserve, champion, support, guard, wield, hold, sustain, assert, oppose, fight back, fend for, maintain, fight down, observe, uphold, preserve, exert, represent

   Antonyms:
   attack, prosecute, assail

Matched Categories

1. • Back
   • Prevent

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defendverb

   Synonyms:
   guard, PROTECT, shield, secure from danger, secure from attack

2. defendverb

   Synonyms:
   vindicate, assert, maintain, uphold, justify, espouse, plead

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defendverb

   Synonyms:
   guard, protect, shield, secure, screen, shelter, fortify, garrison, preserve, harbor, countenance, uphold, espouse, vindicate, advocate, plead, justify, maintain

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "defend":

   defending, uphold, defence, protect, advocate, defender, safeguard, defends, upholding, champion, defense, justify, defended

How to pronounce defend?

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use defend in a sentence?

1. Denis Pushilin:

   I appeal to all the men in the republic who can hold weapons to defend their families, their children, wives, mothers, together we will achieve the coveted victory that we all need.

2. Stavro Jabra:

   We want to defend the freedom of the press, the freedom of the media and the freedom of opinion. This is our mission.

3. The President-elect:

   All of it makes it harder for our government to protect the American people, to defend our vital interests in a world where threats are constantly evolving and our adversaries are constantly adapting.

4. Hillary Clinton:

   I don’t want to see us go backwards, but organized interests fueled by ideology and huge amounts of money are trying to take us backwards. So I feel as strongly today as I ever have that we all have to stand up and defend our country, and most importantly, our democracy.

5. Voltaire:

   May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies.