DEFEND Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'defend' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of defend are guard , protect , safeguard , and shield . While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack. // defend the country

Q: When is 'guard' a more appropriate choice than 'defend'?

The meanings of guard and defend largely overlap; however, guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger. // White House entrances are well guarded

Q: When would 'protect' be a good substitute for 'defend'?

The synonyms protect and defend are sometimes interchangeable, but protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure. // a hard hat to protect your head

Q: When might 'safeguard' be a better fit than 'defend'?

Although the words safeguard and defend have much in common, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger. // our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Q: Where would 'shield' be a reasonable alternative to 'defend'?

The words shield and defend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack. // shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

defend

verb

di-ˈfend

Definition of defend next

as in to protect

to drive danger or attack away from a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to justify

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word defend different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of defend are guard, protect, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When is guard a more appropriate choice than defend?

The meanings of guard and defend largely overlap; however, guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

When would protect be a good substitute for defend?

The synonyms protect and defend are sometimes interchangeable, but protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

When might safeguard be a better fit than defend?

Although the words safeguard and defend have much in common, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Where would shield be a reasonable alternative to defend?

The words shield and defend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defend House District 71 Former State Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville, barely defended her seat in 2022 against Republican Scott Hawkins, a teacher and Jefferson city councilor, who lost by less than 300 votes. —

Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024 Johnson is somebody who helped defend his claims to winning the 2020 election, despite there not being evidence of that. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024 Cruz would defeat Faber again to win their career series, defending the title in the process before losing his title via unanimous decision to Cody Garbrandt in December 2016. —

Brian Mazique, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 White has 12 tackles and four passes defended through four games. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defend

Verb

This includes even some mature and old-growth forests that Biden’s executive order was supposed to protect.

April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024
Given this, the U.S. government along with governments around the world are eager to harness the ocean for economic purposes, as well as protect it from the dangers of climate change.

Devika Rao, theweek, 11 Nov. 2024