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Defend

v. resilient, kind everyday

What it means

Meaning 1

Keep a person, place, or principle safe from harm or loss.

Reach for it when describing active protection when something valuable is threatened

Local volunteers formed a line to defend the young trees from grazing cattle.

Meaning 2

Give reasons or evidence in support of someone or something challenged.

Reach for it when standing up for a person, idea, or right against criticism

The editor returned to the meeting to defend the reporter's careful work.

Words to choose between 7

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
everyday
warm
professional
  • Defend (this word)
formal
literary

Meaning 1: Keep a person, place, or principle safe from harm or loss.

  • everyday

    protect

    Fits when preventing harm is the direct aim

    Careful Protection may be passive or preventive, while defend usually answers an active threat.

  • professional

    guard

    Fits when watchful presence keeps a place or person secure

    Careful Guarding does not necessarily involve resistance or advocacy.

  • literary

    shield

    Fits when placing a barrier between someone and harm is the image

    Careful Shield can imply hiding a person from consequences they should reasonably face.

Meaning 2: Give reasons or evidence in support of someone or something challenged.

  • everyday

    support

    Fits when practical or emotional backing matters more than opposition

    Careful Support can be quiet agreement and need not answer any challenge.

  • warm

    champion

    Fits when enthusiastic public advocacy will advance the cause

    Careful Champion suggests promotion beyond the responsive, evidence-based act of defending.

  • formal

    uphold

    Fits when a rule, right, or principle must remain in force

    Careful Uphold fits standards better than defending a person's reputation.

  • formal

    vindicate

    Fits when evidence clears blame or proves a position right

    Careful A defense can be honorable without succeeding, while vindicate implies the case was proved.

Opposites 4

  • abandon
  • expose
  • attack
  • condemn

Common phrases 3

  • defend a community

    Residents organized to defend a community from illegal dumping.

  • defend a right

    The association will defend a right that protects every tenant.

  • defend a decision

    Nadia used the survey data to defend a decision others had questioned.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated