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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defends
Matriarchy is a force that protects and defends, a force blunted and downgraded at every turn.
—
Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
This support among white Christian voters has held since the 2024 election, with two-thirds of white evangelicals saying Trump defends people with religious beliefs similar to theirs, according to a Pew poll released Thursday.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2026
Forward Rieger Lorenz #14 of the Denver Pioneers brings the puck up ice as defenseman Luca Fantilli #63 of the Michigan Wolverines defends on Thursday night.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
No one takes shots at the net and defends them like these guys.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Karp regularly defends Palantir when the company is criticized for providing tools used to surveil immigrants and Americans.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Amazon's Andy Jassy defends Amazon’s $200B spending spree.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Her squid-ink flavor profile was one note, and her monkfish had a weirdly wet and spongy texture that Rhoda defends but that none of the judges can figure out.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office, which defends the LAPD in most civil lawsuits, generally does not comment on pending litigation as a matter of policy.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
This support among white Christian voters has held since the 2024 election, with two-thirds of white evangelicals saying Trump defends people with religious beliefs similar to theirs, according to a Pew poll released Thursday.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2026
Forward Rieger Lorenz #14 of the Denver Pioneers brings the puck up ice as defenseman Luca Fantilli #63 of the Michigan Wolverines defends on Thursday night.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
No one takes shots at the net and defends them like these guys.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Karp regularly defends Palantir when the company is criticized for providing tools used to surveil immigrants and Americans.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Amazon's Andy Jassy defends Amazon’s $200B spending spree.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Her squid-ink flavor profile was one note, and her monkfish had a weirdly wet and spongy texture that Rhoda defends but that none of the judges can figure out.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office, which defends the LAPD in most civil lawsuits, generally does not comment on pending litigation as a matter of policy.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defends
Verb
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The First Amendment protects the press precisely because a free press protects democracy.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
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But unionized workers aren’t the only ones Gloria protects.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The bulls claim that trend justifies today’s valuations, and that EPS can keep rolling in double-digits while national income trudges at a nominal 5% or so.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
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For those willing to make the trip, the standard of care justifies every mile.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The department maintains a library that gets no visitors most weeks.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The Tribune maintains editorial control over assignments and content.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If the Supreme Court upholds the order, Cruz said, families are bracing for the possibility that the government could attempt to revisit the citizenship of children born during that interim period—a scenario that would almost certainly prompt further legal challenges.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 Apr. 2026
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Luvme exclusively offers three tiers, beginning at 3-star and above, because tiers 1 and 2 fall below the quality and performance standards this brand upholds.—
Noel Cymone Walker,
StyleCaster,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Teresa Moya, the museum’s director, told the Art Newspaper that the addition supports Anahuacalli’s role as a center for research, conservation, and study.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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This supports housing stability and economic mobility in Charlotte’s West End.—
Chase Jordan
April 21,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defends. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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