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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defends
He-Man is typically shown to be the alter ego of Prince Adam of the planet Eternia, who defends the secrets of Castle Grayskull, as well as the rest of Eternia, from the forces of the antagonist Skeletor.
—
Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
No side that defends this badly from front to back can hope for European qualification through the Premier League next season, and humiliation against Manchester City in the FA Cup final looks a far likelier outcome than a palate-cleansing triumph.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Bean’s Lucy is taken in but defends her family when the monster reveals himself.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In the first, Batula defends dating Wilson by alluding to something Miller said on the show about the pitfalls of dating white men as a Black woman.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Founded in 1922, PEN America is a writers’ and free-expression advocacy group that defends the rights of authors and opposes censorship.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
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
Karp regularly defends Palantir when the company is criticized for providing tools used to surveil immigrants and Americans.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
No side that defends this badly from front to back can hope for European qualification through the Premier League next season, and humiliation against Manchester City in the FA Cup final looks a far likelier outcome than a palate-cleansing triumph.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Bean’s Lucy is taken in but defends her family when the monster reveals himself.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In the first, Batula defends dating Wilson by alluding to something Miller said on the show about the pitfalls of dating white men as a Black woman.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Founded in 1922, PEN America is a writers’ and free-expression advocacy group that defends the rights of authors and opposes censorship.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
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
Karp regularly defends Palantir when the company is criticized for providing tools used to surveil immigrants and Americans.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defends
Verb
-
TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray protects hair from heat damage caused by curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
Ticket to Work protects beneficiaries during their transition.—
French Hill,
Baltimore Sun,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The pitch has always been that better performance justifies a higher price.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
For those willing to make the trip, the standard of care justifies every mile.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lampley maintains a deep faith.—
Mark Yarm,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Hillsborough maintains reserves for budget flexibility, and keeping those reserves strong is recommended, Fesler said.—
Nicolas Villamil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Islam, like Christianity, upholds the dignity of every human being and encourages dialogue and reconciliation over conflict.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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If the Supreme Court upholds the decisions, Haitians and Syrians will be able to keep their protections.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Take a few minutes to reset, then make one decision that supports both your stability and your peace moving forward.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The brand’s proprietary Alpha Keratin 60ku supports stronger, healthier hair right at the root, while soothing botanicals like rosemary, green tea, and rice extract keep irritation in check.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defends. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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