Synonyms of defends

defends

verb

present tense third-person singular of defend

1

as in protects

to drive danger or attack away from

a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protects
• shields
• safeguards
• guards
• fends
• secures
• keeps
• prevents
• fences
• saves
• opposes
• covers
• wards
• resists
• forfends
• preserves
• bulwarks
• stands up for
• averts
• conserves
• withstands
• screens
• contends
• wars
• fights
• walls
• battles
• buffers
• pickets
• palisades

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attacks
• assails
• assaults
• bombards
• submits
• overruns
• besets
• storms
• yields
• besieges
• capitulates
• caves

2

as in justifies

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

• justifies
• maintains
• upholds
• supports
• asserts
• affirms
• advocates
• proclaims
• discusses
• confirms
• argues
• insists
• pleads
• sticks up for
• contends
• espouses
• stands up for
• emphasizes
• claims
• champions
• professes
• vindicates
• states
• avers
• protests
• underlines
• debates
• avows
• underscores
• warrants
• stresses
• avouches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abandons
• withdraws
• retracts
• forsakes
• reverses
• takes back
• switches
• refutes
• abjures
• recants
• rebuts
• disproves
• controverts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of defends

Headlining the event, Gustavo Trujillo defends his BKB Heavyweight title against Mark O'Neil, bringing an impressive 8-0 promotional record with all first-round knockouts. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

The filing also defends a witness-tampering charge involving Robinson's roommate and an allegation that Robinson committed a violent offense in the presence of a child. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

American Ashton Eaton defends his Olympic decathlon title, equaling the games record with a surge on the last lap of the 1,500 meters — the last event in the two-day competition. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

The number of complaints involving Discord between January and July increased by 54% compared to the same period last year, according to data from Safernet Brazil, a nonprofit that defends human rights on the internet. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Garry defends takedowns at 80 percent and just stuffed all of Belal Muhammad’s takedowns. — Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Sasa takes on a rape case that strikes close to home, while his friend Kalle defends a client in a gang trial that tests his ideals. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Trump defends Pete Hegseth amid concerns about the defense secretary’s leadership. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026

Joseph left the agency last spring and now works as senior policy counsel at the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, an advocacy and legal group that defends refugee rights. — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 30 July 2026