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

The defense has saved the Falcons, with a defended pass that prevented a touchdown, along with Jessie Bates III's forced fumble on what would have been a touchdown. — AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026

The idea is to give aircraft another long-range weapon for attacking high-value or time-sensitive targets while keeping those aircraft farther from heavily defended areas. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

The city is part of Ukraine’s Fortress Belt, a series of heavily defended cities that Russia must overcome to advance farther into the region. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 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

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

Verb

Kotlikoff defended his leadership, arguing that replacing him would do little to solve complex problems and could damage Cornell’s reputation. — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

Despite the agency’s claims that its policies are legal, attorneys for the federal government have not defended the re-arrests or the use of unauthorized GPS monitoring. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026

However, the two defended the titles sparingly which suggests the duo may have been on equal footing with Penta and Evans going into the match. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Hepburn defended his record in a 12-page rebuttal to Cervera’s evaluation. — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026

Positions have to be defended long after the facts have shifted. — Sonya Thadhani Mughal, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

But Vigna, who enlisted LoveFrom, the firm founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, to build Luce, has defended his breakaway from tradition. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

The government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, however, has defended the response of rescue teams. — CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

City officials defended the report as a routine effort to inform council members about infrastructure investments. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026