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 But market exchange has become hopelessly entangled with national security, and the United States must now defend its interests in a world in which other powers can leverage chokepoints of their own. Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025 The tone has been combative, crass, and what’s been defended as fighting fire with fire. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2025 Martinelli looks more solid than Noni in defending, one on one Noni struggled defending at times though Amad is tricky. James McNicholas, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025 The 28-year-old rider was unable to defend his position on a track known for difficult overtaking. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defend
Verb
  • The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Retail giants like Amazon and Walmart have relied on algorithmic pricing for years, adjusting millions of prices daily to protect margins while staying competitive.
    Uttam Kumar, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, it is used symbolically: to impress investors, manage employee morale, and justify corporate restructuring.
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The military, which had previously ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for decades, sought to justify its takeover by alleging widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, which was won in a landslide by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • People have had public debates about the proper approach to safeguarding health since before modern medicine, but RFK is not a fringe academic or internet poster who can argue to his heart’s content without actually hurting anyone.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
  • This evolution is crucial to building systems that not only safeguard data but also align seamlessly with the agility and innovation AI brings to businesses.
    Ganesh Kirti, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Regardless, the new system is easier to maintain because of its inherent design.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Meanwhile beyond the field, the team works to maintain focus, a difficult task considering their dominance and global popularity have earned them love and hate in equal measure.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • For example, both Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, are guarded by officers who frequently wear suits, not uniformed state troopers.
    Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Just as persistent droughts motivate people to zealously guard access to their water supplies, a lack of liquidity in global markets encourages governments to ensure that their debt is funded at home rather than leaving it up to the market.
    Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Trump sued and the state Supreme Court upheld the results on a 4-3 vote on Dec. 14, 2020.
    Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • For leaders, the mandate is clear: design organizations where humans and machines collaborate productively, safeguard fiduciary responsibility, and uphold trust—even when part of the stewardship rests with algorithms.
    Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Defend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defend. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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