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

Lawmakers and school districts have raised concerns over federal agents' presence outside schools or near school bus stops, with the federal government frequently defending its actions. — Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026

The county paid about $112 million in settlements defending the department in the 2024-25 fiscal year alone. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Raines, the two-time defending Class 3A state champion, is undefeated and owns victories over Mandarin and Venice. — Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026

Ask them to explain what appeals to them before defending your original position. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026

Crowley made defending Medicaid funding and preserving affordable housing central pillars of his platform. — Maayan Silver, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

The Moon’s square to Uranus favors responding to the new situation instead of defending the original promise. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026

Elsewhere, the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes visit Nashville, and Nikita Kucherov’s Lightning host Detroit. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

After building a 20-9 lead in the third quarter, the Chicago Bears knew the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks would eventually counterpunch. — Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026