1
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
2
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
Example 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
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday defended the administration’s response to the disastrous July 4 floods in Texas, as its management of the Federal Emergency Management Agency receives scrutiny.
—
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 14 July 2025
And the company defended its driver-assistance systems.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 14 July 2025
Southern California’s Marxists came out of the woodwork to defend Mamdani and lob personal attacks at me.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
And another sign of genuine fan support is the outpouring of love towards Amaya Espinal, a Dominican American Islander who was chastised by male Islanders for her emotional candor and passionate responses, until fellow Islander Bryan Arenales defended her.
—Taylor Crumpton, Time, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defend
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 14 July 2025
And the company defended its driver-assistance systems.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 14 July 2025
Southern California’s Marxists came out of the woodwork to defend Mamdani and lob personal attacks at me.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
And another sign of genuine fan support is the outpouring of love towards Amaya Espinal, a Dominican American Islander who was chastised by male Islanders for her emotional candor and passionate responses, until fellow Islander Bryan Arenales defended her.
—Taylor Crumpton, Time, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defend
Verb
-
Today the act protects more than 2,300 plant and animal species in the US and abroad.—
Christine Peterson,
Wired News,
5 July 2025
-
Snag straw bags that are ideal for a beach day or brunch, straw hats to keep your face protected from the sun, and popular shoe styles like woven flats, simple black flip flops, and kitten heels.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
What event could possibly justify closing a major highway for days on end?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
-
If the Tripadvisor business was the company’s only segment, this valuation could be justified.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Shaping and adapting strategies that will safeguard digital infrastructure and foster a secure technological environment for the future is a critical path.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
The Jennings family chose to safeguard their property with a conservation easement with the Land Trust for Tennessee.—
Laura L. Davis,
The Tennessean,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
The General Services Administration, the agency that manages and maintains federal real estate, is paying for the elevator repairs.—
Tracy J. Wholf,
CBS News,
9 July 2025
-
To maintain a growth mindset, routinely evaluate your hard and soft skills.—
Kevin Walters,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
In the first quarter, Clark was being guarded closely and well out from beyond the 3-point line.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
-
During a recent interview in Rolling Stone, Murph was guarded but self-reflective.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Last month the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that prohibits certain types of gender-affirming medical care for children involving puberty blockers and hormone therapy.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
3 July 2025
-
The decision to hear the cases follows a decision by the Supreme Court's conservative majority last month upholding state bans on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defend. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share