defend

1 to drive danger or attack away from <a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost> Synonyms bulwark, cover, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward Related Words avert, prevent; oppose, resist, withstand; battle, contend, fight, war; conserve, preserve, save; buffer, palisade, picket, wall Phrases stand up for Near Antonyms bombard, storm; beset, besiege, overrun; capitulate, cave, submit, yield Antonyms assail, assault, attack

2 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 maintain, justify, support, upholdRelated Words advocate, champion, espouse; confirm, vindicate, warrant; affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, insist, plead, proclaim, profess, protest, state; argue, debate, discuss; emphasize, stress, underline, underscoreNear Antonyms abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract, take back, withdraw; reverse, switch; controvert, disprove, rebut, refute