| defend | | |
| v. (communication) | 1. defend, fend for, support | argue or speak in defense of.; "She supported the motion to strike" |
| ~ argue, reason | present reasons and arguments. |
| ~ apologise, rationalize, apologize, rationalise, justify, excuse | defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning.; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" |
| ~ stick up, stand up | defend against attack or criticism.; "He stood up for his friend"; "She stuck up for the teacher who was accused of harassing the student" |
| ~ uphold | stand up for; stick up for; of causes, principles, or ideals. |
| v. (competition) | 2. defend | be on the defensive; act against an attack. |
| ~ fight, struggle, contend | be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight.; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country" |
| ~ bulwark | defend with a bulwark. |
| ~ protect | shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage.; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain" |
| ~ ward off | avert, turn away, or repel.; "Ward off danger" |
| ~ hold back, arrest, turn back, contain, stop, check | hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of.; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" |
| ~ prevent, keep | stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state.; "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles" |
| v. (competition) | 3. defend, guard, hold | protect against a challenge or attack.; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks" |
| ~ protect | shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage.; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain" |
| ~ hold | take and maintain control over, often by violent means.; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week" |
| v. (competition) | 4. defend, fight, fight back, fight down, oppose | fight against or resist strongly.; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" |
| ~ fight, struggle, contend | be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight.; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country" |
| ~ recalcitrate | show strong objection or repugnance; manifest vigorous opposition or resistance; be obstinately disobedient.; "The Democratic senators recalcitrated against every proposal from the Republican side" |
| ~ fend, resist, stand | withstand the force of something.; "The trees resisted her"; "stand the test of time"; "The mountain climbers had to fend against the ice and snow" |
| ~ stand firm, hold out, resist, withstand | stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something. |
| ~ drive back, fight off, repulse, rebuff, repel | force or drive back.; "repel the attacker"; "fight off the onslaught"; "rebuff the attack" |
| v. (competition) | 5. champion, defend | protect or fight for as a champion. |
| ~ back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support | be behind; approve of.; "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960" |
| v. (social) | 6. defend, represent | be the defense counsel for someone in a trial.; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant" |
| v. (communication) | 7. defend, maintain | state or assert.; "He maintained his innocence" |
| ~ vindicate | maintain, uphold, or defend.; "vindicate the rights of the citizens" |
| ~ affirm | say yes to. |
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