Synonyms of defended

defended 1 of 2

adjective

as in protected

Related Words

• protected
• guarded
• secured
• shielded
• safeguarded
• secure
• defensible
• tenable
• unassailable
• defendable
• invincible
• inviolable
• invulnerable
• impregnable
• bulletproof
• unbeatable
• indomitable
• untouchable
• unconquerable

Dissimilar Words

• indefensible
• untenable
• vulnerable
• liable
• open
• susceptible
• exposed
• unprotected
• undefended
• unguarded
• insecure
• unsecured
• weak
• helpless
• powerless
• defenseless
• vincible
• imperiled
• assailable

defended

2 of 2

verb

past tense of defend

1

as in guarded

to drive danger or attack away from

a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protected
• guarded
• safeguarded
• shielded
• fended
• secured
• kept
• warded
• fenced
• screened
• prevented
• saved
• bulwarked
• covered
• opposed
• stood up for
• forfended
• preserved
• resisted
• withstood
• contended
• fought
• conserved
• averted
• warred
• battled
• picketed
• buffered
• walled
• palisaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attacked
• assailed
• assaulted
• stormed
• bombarded
• submitted
• besieged
• beset
• yielded
• overran
• caved
• capitulated

2

as in justified

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

• justified
• maintained
• upheld
• supported
• advocated
• asserted
• affirmed
• proclaimed
• championed
• discussed
• confirmed
• argued
• insisted
• stuck up for
• stated
• protested
• contended
• stood up for
• vindicated
• espoused
• pleaded
• claimed
• emphasized
• debated
• averred
• professed
• warranted
• underscored
• underlined
• stressed
• avowed
• avouched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• withdrew
• abandoned
• retracted
• reversed
• forsook
• switched
• recanted
• refuted
• took back
• rebutted
• abjured
• disproved
• controverted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defended

Adjective

That additional space supports higher burnout velocity and helps expand the interceptor’s defended area. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026

The line of four large and heavily defended cities, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) long, has been key to denying Moscow its goal of seizing Ukraine's industrial heartland. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Every additional defended point becomes a resource allocation problem for Moscow. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Speaking at Fortune’s Workforce Innovation Summit on Tuesday, the 31-year-old defended sweeping workforce cuts at Bolt—including a recent layoff affecting roughly 30% of employees—as well as his decision to eliminate the company’s HR team. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 19 May 2026

Some defended efforts by staff to correct the books, while others demanded answers on how the accounting error had gone unnoticed through three full audit cycles. — Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 1 May 2026

Private firefighting outfits defended companies, utilities, and ultrarich enclaves while other parts of the city burned. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025

Ringo recorded a defended pass and recovered the fumble Campbell forced. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

In the first three games of the year, DeJean recorded 22 tackles and a defended pass. — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025

Verb

Summary Islam Makhachev successfully defended his welterweight title at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, securing a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Roberts conceded that the BFI system can seem like a bureaucracy but defended the amount of paperwork. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026

But after Cunningham and Caitlin Clark defended White publicly, the fans went back to cheering for the coach on Friday. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

During the Saturday general session meeting, Donna Soucy, a New Hampshire DNC member, defended the Granite State’s ability to evaluate presidential candidates despite being stripped of its former first-place status. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026

During an appeals court hearing in early June, an administration lawyer defended a broad view of presidential control over iconic public facilities. — Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

The Justice Department has defended its track record in court and accused judges of overstepping their authority. — Npr Staff, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026

In the face of the data center backlash, Pritzker defended his rollback of tax incentives at the Aspen Ideas climate conference in Chicago on July 21, according to a New York Times report. — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Trump has repeatedly defended the fund and has threatened to push forward with it if Republicans don’t support Blanche’s nomination. — Bill Barrow, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026