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

Today’s Four Questions interviewee is Bowdon coach Jamie Abrams, whose team is the defending Class A Division II champion. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Taiwan’s best hope, then, for deterring and defending itself from a blockade by fire would be to prepare to survive one. — Eugene Gholz, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026

Carlos Alcaraz has started hitting tennis balls in earnest for the first time since April, but the Cincinnati Open will come too soon for its defending champion. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

At Independence Square, the crowd observed a minute of silence for those killed while defending Ukraine. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

November 22 – December 21 Your body may reject the schedule your ambition keeps defending. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Indiana being the defending champions, but Oregon and Ohio state being arguably the two best teams heading into 2026. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Will defending national champion Indiana start its title defense in the top spot? — Erick Smith, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

Reports of a Funding Shortfall After months of silence, Romanian media reported in June that the Romanian state did not have sufficient funds to proceed with defending Barbosu's case at CAS. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026