Antonyms for defend
dɪˈfɛndde·fend

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

2. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

3. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

4. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

5. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

6. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

7. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

8. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

9. defendverb

   Antonyms:
   attack

10. defendverb

    Antonyms:
    attack

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defend

   Keep, signifying generally to have and retain in possession, is the terse, strong Saxon term for many acts which are more exactly discriminated by other words. We keep, observe, or celebrate a festival; we keep or hold a prisoner in custody; we keep or preserve silence, keep the peace, preserve order — preserve being the more formal word; we keep or maintain a horse, a servant, etc.; a man supports his family; we keep or obey a commandment; keep or fulfil a promise. In the expressions to keep a secret, keep one's own counsel, keep faith, or keep the faith, such words as preserve or maintain could not be substituted without loss. A person keeps a shop or store, conducts or carries on a business; he keeps or carries a certain line of goods; we may keep or restrain one from folly, crime, or violence; we keep from or refrain from evil, ourselves. Keep in the sense of guard or defend implies that the defense is effectual. Compare CELEBRATE; RESTRAIN.

   Synonyms:
   carry, carry on, celebrate, conduct, detain, fulfil, guard, hold, keep, maintain, obey, observe, preserve, protect, refrain, restrain, retain, support, sustain, withhold

   Preposition:
   Keep in hand, in mind, in or within the house; from evil; out of mischief; keep to the subject; keep for a person, an occasion, etc.

Matched Categories

1. • Back
   • Prevent

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:1.5 / 2 votes

1. defend, support, fend forverb

   argue or speak in defense of

   "She supported the motion to strike"

   Antonyms:
   attack, prosecute, assail

   Synonyms:
   fight, digest, abide, tolerate, support, oppose, suffer, plunk for, hold up, endure, guard, stick out, confirm, fend for, patronise, back, back up, keep going, put up, corroborate, endorse, stomach, represent, fight back, bear out, affirm, subscribe, brook, indorse, patronage, stand, sustain, maintain, fight down, patronize, underpin, substantiate, hold, plump for, champion, bear

2. defendverb

   be on the defensive; act against an attack

   Antonyms:
   prosecute, assail, attack

   Synonyms:
   represent, oppose, maintain, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight down

3. defend, guard, holdverb

   protect against a challenge or attack

   "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"

   Antonyms:
   prosecute, attack, assail

   Synonyms:
   fight, book, retain, moderate, view as, support, apply, hold back, harbour, take hold, bind, deem, hold up, arrest, guard, take, have, concord, check, make, fend for, take for, go for, throw, defy, control, harbor, oppose, keep, obligate, ward, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, nurse, accommodate, represent, curb, fight back, confine, have got, restrain, withstand, agree, hold in, halt, contain, obtain, maintain, fight down, oblige, concur, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, admit, hold, declare, champion, bear

4. fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defendverb

   fight against or resist strongly

   "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!"

   Antonyms:
   assail, attack, prosecute

   Synonyms:
   fight, play off, counterbalance, represent, agitate, champion, press, support, guard, hold, campaign, oppose, struggle, match, react, pit, controvert, fend for, contradict, contend, maintain, fight down, fight back, crusade, push

5. champion, defendverb

   protect or fight for as a champion

   Antonyms:
   attack, prosecute, assail

   Synonyms:
   represent, oppose, maintain, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight down

6. defend, representverb

   be the defense counsel for someone in a trial

   "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant"

   Antonyms:
   prosecute, assail, attack

   Synonyms:
   fight, stand for, act, typify, play, be, represent, champion, support, guard, hold, comprise, symbolise, interpret, map, fend for, exemplify, maintain, correspond, lay out, make up, symbolize, fight down, fight back, stage, oppose, present, constitute

7. maintain, defendverb

   state or assert

   "He maintained his innocence"

   Antonyms:
   attack, prosecute, assail

   Synonyms:
   fight, asseverate, keep up, keep, conserve, champion, support, guard, wield, hold, sustain, assert, oppose, fight back, fend for, maintain, fight down, observe, uphold, preserve, exert, represent

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defendverb

   Synonyms:
   guard, protect, shield, secure, screen, shelter, fortify, garrison, preserve, harbor, countenance, uphold, espouse, vindicate, advocate, plead, justify, maintain

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. attack

   because attack opposite is defend

   example - gain answer - lose

   Submitted by anonymous on September 22, 2020  

How to use defend in a sentence?

1. Ellen Page:

   A lot of religious people also used the Bible to defend segregation, to defend slavery, i think religious freedom is so important and so crucial for all religions. LGBT people are worried they will directly be discriminated against.

2. Elise Stefanik:

   As a new mom, I know there is nothing more extraordinary than the miracle of life. Hearing Sam's heartbeat for the first time was the greatest blessing and gift for our family, this June, we celebrated the historic Supreme Court ruling that will save countless lives, and this resolution is a reminder of our commitment to defend the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for every American.

3. President Barack Obama:

   There's only one way to defend America from these cyber threats and that is through government and industry working together, sharing appropriate information as true partners.

4. Matthew Hobbs:

   It also underlines once again the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to help defend against a host of diseases, including prostate cancer.

5. Alan Watts:

   Some believe all that parents, tutors, and kindred believe. They take their principles by inheritance, and defend them as they would their estates, because they are born heirs to them.

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