Synonyms for defend

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Synonyms, Thesaurus & Antonyms of 'defend'

Princeton's WordNet

1. (verb) defend, support, fend for
argue or speak in defense of
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, defend, fight back, bear out, affirm, subscribe, brook, indorse, patronage, stand, sustain, maintain, fight down, patronize, underpin, substantiate, hold, plump for, champion, bear
Antonyms: attack, prosecute, assail

2. (verb) defend
be on the defensive; act against an attack
Synonyms: represent, oppose, maintain, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight down
Antonyms: prosecute, assail, attack

3. (verb) defend, guard, hold
protect against a challenge or attack
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, defend, 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
Antonyms: prosecute, attack, assail

4. (verb) fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend
fight against or resist strongly
Synonyms: fight, play off, counterbalance, represent, agitate, champion, press, support, guard, hold, defend, campaign, oppose, struggle, match, react, pit, controvert, fend for, contradict, contend, maintain, fight down, fight back, crusade, push
Antonyms: assail, attack, prosecute

5. (verb) champion, defend
protect or fight for as a champion
Synonyms: represent, oppose, maintain, defend, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight down
Antonyms: attack, prosecute, assail

6. (verb) defend, represent
be the defense counsel for someone in a trial
Synonyms: fight, stand for, act, typify, play, be, represent, champion, support, guard, hold, defend, comprise, symbolise, interpret, map, fend for, exemplify, maintain, correspond, lay out, make up, symbolize, fight down, fight back, stage, oppose, present, constitute
Antonyms: prosecute, assail, attack

7. (verb) maintain, defend
state or assert
Synonyms: fight, asseverate, keep up, keep, conserve, champion, support, guard, wield, hold, sustain, defend, assert, oppose, fight back, fend for, maintain, fight down, observe, uphold, preserve, exert, represent
Antonyms: attack, prosecute, assail

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Antonyms of 'defend'

English Synonyms and Antonyms

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

'defend' - Nearby Entries
defendant defender defender of the faith defend defending defending team defenestrate

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