Synonyms of defending

defending

verb

present participle of defend

1

as in protecting

to drive danger or attack away from

a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protecting
• safeguarding
• guarding
• shielding
• securing
• keeping
• fending
• warding
• preventing
• saving
• fencing
• covering
• preserving
• opposing
• screening
• bulwarking
• forfending
• standing up for
• conserving
• resisting
• fighting
• withstanding
• contending
• averting
• warring
• battling
• picketing
• buffering
• walling
• palisading

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attacking
• assaulting
• assailing
• bombarding
• storming
• submitting
• besieging
• overrunning
• besetting
• yielding
• caving
• capitulating

2

as in justifying

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

• justifying
• maintaining
• upholding
• supporting
• advocating
• asserting
• affirming
• proclaiming
• championing
• discussing
• arguing
• confirming
• vindicating
• insisting
• sticking up for
• claiming
• protesting
• standing up for
• stating
• espousing
• contending
• pleading
• emphasizing
• debating
• professing
• averring
• warranting
• stressing
• underscoring
• underlining
• avowing
• avouching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• withdrawing
• abandoning
• forsaking
• retracting
• reversing
• switching
• taking back
• refuting
• recanting
• abjuring
• rebutting
• disproving
• controverting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defending

The Dodgers are the two-time defending World Series champions. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026

Who will forget Cape Verde’s magical run and near-upset of defending champion Argentina? — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

His signature tactical approach was the high press, in which the back line moves up the pitch, swarming opposing players in the midfield—essentially, defending by attacking. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

The scene played out across the soccer-mad nation as Egypt faced the defending World Cup champion in the round-of-16 fixture in Atlanta. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

After the Times story was published, some Platner supporters pointed to Fifield’s political history when defending him against her claims. — Jake Tapper, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Those Soviet-era fighters were largely tasked with defending the airspace around Tehran and unsurprisingly failed to hinder Israeli airstrikes against Iran since 2024. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

While San Francisco’s bullpen is struggling, Rogers is in the midst of another excellent season after signing a three-year, $37 million deal to join the defending American League champions. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

When Argentina picked Kansas City for its base camp, the defending World Cup champions chose to train at Sporting KC’s Compass Minerals National Performance Center and reside at the Origin Hotel. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026