defend

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 Justice Department also urged the Court to take up the matter and requested the appointment of an outside party to defend the lower court's ruling, given that the department no longer supports it. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Backing the Republicans in their appeal is the Trump administration, which is not defending the law before the Supreme Court. June 30, CBS News, 30 June 2025 Fox News Digital reported that the Mountain West Conference hired the same law firm to investigate the trans athlete's misconduct allegations that the conference was using to defend the athlete's eligibility for the conference tournament in court. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025 Advertisement Mamdani continued his media push over the weekend, defending his platform and tone across multiple outlets with a message that emphasized optimism and inclusion. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for defend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defend
Verb
  • The show, based on a novella by the author Martha Wells, follows a snarky private-security cyborg (played by Alexander Skarsgård) assigned to protect a group of scientists investigating a mostly uncharted planet.
    Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 5 July 2025
  • Today the act protects more than 2,300 plant and animal species in the US and abroad.
    Christine Peterson, Wired News, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • In our opinion, this favorable trend justifies an upward revision of its valuation multiple.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The midfielder has arguably had to fight even harder to begin to justify the energy and expense required to bring him to Stamford Bridge two and a half years ago.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • These updates often patch vulnerabilities that malware can exploit. 4) Use mobile security software: The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious software is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
  • Defending institutions of higher education from increasingly authoritarian measures is an important way to safeguard not only academic freedom, but the legacy of 1776 as well.
    Time, Time, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The pilot struggled to maintain the plane on a heading and climb, a preliminary report said.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
  • One of Swarbrick’s final maneuvers as athletic director before stepping down was renewing the NBC contract through the 2029 season, believed to be lucrative enough to maintain Notre Dame’s independence.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Healthcare providers use it to guard sensitive patient data and meet strict compliance standards.
    Bhupendra Singh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Chen finished with a career-high 10 points and drew the assignment of guarding Ariel Atkins, the Sky’s leading scorer in the fourth quarter.
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The decision to hear the cases follows a decision by the Supreme Court's conservative majority last month upholding state bans on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2025
  • Last year, West Virginia tried again and urged the Supreme Court to review the 4th Circuit’s decision and uphold its restrictions on transgender athletes.
    David G. Savage Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Defend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defend. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on defend

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