DEFENDING Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

defending

verb

present participle of defend

as in protecting

to drive danger or attack away from a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 defending We grow practiced at defending art by describing its return on investment. — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026 Netflix bought exclusive rights to broadcast the 2030 World Cup in co-host Spain on Tuesday in a deal that lets a free-to-air public broadcaster show games each day including the defending champion’s. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Reputational risks Trump’s regulators are handing ⁠Wall Street banks major capital relief and have already clashed with Democrats when defending their policies during congressional hearings. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 As an example, Harington pointed to the 2025 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, when Max Verstappen cut a corner while defending his position. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 The foreign money and visitors could dry up, however, if the Saudis prove incapable of defending themselves from Houthi attacks. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 More snaps mean more sack opportunities — but also more responsibility, not just as a pass rusher but also in defending the run and ensuring that edges are sealed and pockets are contained. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026 Much of the discussion surrounding this week’s game centers around how the Georgia defense will go about defending Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell. — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Now Trump’s folks are rounding up and deporting people who were jailed in their home country for the sin of defending democracy. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defending

Verb

The crisis is a central issue in the race for California insurance commissioner, with candidates offering different approaches to stabilizing the market and protecting homeowners.

— Kenny Choi, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
The result was the PAC-2 variant better known as the MIM-104 Patriot missile, made famous during the 1991 Gulf War for protecting Coalition forces against attacks by Iraqi Scud ballistic missiles.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of protecting

Verb

And El-Sayed, while maintaining that the election should focus on Michigan voters and their economic struggles, has also embraced the larger implications of his candidacy.

— Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
The spending figures raise broader questions about whether France's financial and political priorities have left sufficient resources for maintaining school infrastructure and meeting students' needs.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of maintaining

Verb

Their day jobs are with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a specialized force tasked with guarding the peaks and passes of India’s 2,167-mile (3,488-kilometer) long Himalayan border with China.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
The two businesses, collectively known as CTU, recruited the Colombian commandos who were supposed guarding Sanon in Haiti but later stormed Moïse’s hillside residence above Port-au-Prince in the middle of the night.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of guarding

Verb

In April, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion upholding an arbitrator’s findings that the union may follow the card-signing process as a path to represent the workers.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Rubio visited Portugal a day after delivering a speech in the Greek capital, Athens, urging European countries to save Western civilization by upholding the values and traditions of ancient Greece.

— Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of upholding

Verb

So regenerative has to regenerate livelihoods and communities too, including decent work and supporting the women who do much of the labor in cotton in many contexts.

— SJ Studio, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
While Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia is planning to escalate with drone or rocket strikes on European allies supporting Ukraine, other countries have called for calm.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of supporting

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defends

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“Defending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defending. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of defending

verb

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