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

Egypt's president sought to reassure the public that the country wouldn't attack Yemen, and that the military support is limited to defending Saudi territory. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

In a statement, BGE acknowledged the financial pressures customers are facing while defending its proposal. — CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

One more loss will crown the Knicks the first defending NBA champion in the modern era to start 0-4. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026

Unfortunately, those vulnerabilities leaked last week, sending governments and businesses scrambling to protect their websites before hackers—perhaps armed with some of the very same AI tools as those defending against them—moved in. — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026

And yet, Kansas City will be a narrow underdog in this matchup against defending Super Bowl champion Seattle, albeit a Seahawks squad that is just 3-3 with a quarterback struggling to find his form. — Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

El-Sissi attempts to reassure wary Egyptians Egypt’s president sought to reassure the public that the country wouldn’t attack Yemen, and that the military support is limited to defending Saudi territory. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

When Congress stops defending its laws The television ads case illustrates the conundrum of practical immunity. — Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

The Administration has invoked national security in defending other projects. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 Oct. 2026