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

Over the past several years, South Korea has emerged as a world-class military power – not quite on the level of the US or China, but certainly capable of defending itself against North Korea. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

To flip control of the Senate, where Republicans currently hold 53 seats, Democrats would have to win four seats while defending a handful of their own. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

President Harry Truman’s courageous decision to support the United Nations in defending the South against invasion from the North laid the foundation for today’s remarkably successful Republic of Korea. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Separately, Meta is also defending itself in Tennessee against allegations that its Instagram platform causes mental health harms to young users. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

One of the targets is David, and Marcus is killed defending him at Slough House. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026

Skubal also issued two walks and hit a batter with a pitch in just his second career appearance at Dodger Stadium, taking the mound nine days after the defending champions acquired him from Detroit in the biggest trade of the deadline. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

The defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers may have to relinquish their title to the surging Atlanta Braves. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Then, Carrington struck Clark in the eye while defending a pass during the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, leading to the latter having a black eye. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026