defend
verb
1 defend
Argue or speak in defense of.
synonyms: fend for, support.
Dutch: behandelen, pleiten, verdedigen
2 defend
Be on the defensive; act against an attack.
3 defend
Protect against a challenge or attack.
synonyms: guard, hold.
Roget 717:
defend,
forfend,
fend;
shield,
screen,
shroud;
engarrison†;
fend round
etc.
(circumscribe)
229;
fence,
entrench,
intrench†;
guard
etc.
(keep safe)
664;
guard against;
take care of
etc.
(vigilance)
459;
bear harmless;
fend off,
keep off,
ward off,
beat off,
beat back;
hinder
etc.
706.
parry,
repel,
propugn†,
put to flight;
give a warm reception to [Iron.];
hold at bay,
keep at bay,
keep arm's length.
stand on the defensive,
act on the defensive;
show fight;
maintain one's ground,
stand one's ground;
stand by;
hold one's own;
bear the brunt,
stand the brunt;
fall back upon,
hold,
stand in the gap.
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4 defend
5 defend
Protect or fight for as a champion.
synonym: champion.
6 defend
Be the defense counsel for someone in a trial:
— Ms. Smith will represent the defendant.
synonym: represent.
7 defend
noun
Roget 937:
vindication,
justification,
warrant;
exoneration,
exculpation;
acquittal
etc.
970;
whitewashing.
extenuation;
palliation,
palliative;
softening,
mitigation.
reply,
defense;
recrimination
etc.
938.
apology,
gloss,
varnish;
plea
etc.
617;
salvo;
excuse,
extenuating circumstances;
allowance,
allowance to be made;
locus paenitentiae [Lat.].
apologist,
vindicator,
justifier;
defendant
etc.
938.
justifiable charge,
true bill.
v..
justify,
warrant;
be an excuse for
etc.
n.;
lend a color,
furnish a handle;
vindicate;
exculpate,
disculpate†;
acquit
etc.
970;
clear,
set right,
exonerate,
whitewash;
clear the skirts of.
extenuate,
palliate,
excuse,
soften,
apologize,
varnish,
slur,
gloze;
put a gloss,
put a good face upon;
mince;
gloss over,
bolster up,
help a lame dog over a stile.
advocate,
defend,
plead one's cause;
stand up for,
stick up for,
speak up for;
contend for,
speak for;
bear out,
keep in countenance,
support;
plead
&c.,
617;
say in defense;
plead ignorance;
confess and avoid,
propugn†,
put in a good word for.
take the will for the deed,
make allowance for,
give credit for,
do justice to;
give one his due,
give the Devil his due.
make good;
prove the truth of,
prove one's case;
be justified by the event.
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Moby thesaurus: account, advocate, air, allege in support, answer, argue, argue for, arm, armor, assert, avert, back, battle, bless, bulwark, champion, claim, cloak, compass about, conserve, contend, contend for, copyright, counter, cover, cushion, ensure, espouse, explain, express, fence, fend, fend off, fight, fight for, flank, fortify, guarantee, guard, guard against, harbor, haven, insure, justify, keep, keep from harm, keep safe, maintain, make a plea, make safe, nestle, oppose, parry, patent, plead for, police, preserve, prevent, protect, rationalize, rebut, refute, register, reply, resist, respond, ride shotgun for, riposte, safeguard, save, say in defense, screen, secure, shelter, shield, shroud, speak for, speak up for, stand by, stand up for, stick up for, support, sustain, underwrite, uphold, urge reasons for, utter, vent, vindicate, voice, war, ward, ward off, warrant, watch over, withstand ... show more.
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