Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
defend (verb)transitive verb
1.
a) to drive danger or attack away from - defend our shores
b) (1) to maintain or support in the face of argument or hostile criticism - defend a theory
(2) to prove (as a doctoral thesis) valid by answering questions in an oral exam
c) to attempt to prevent an opponent from scoring at - elects to defend the south goal
2.
archaic - prevent forbid
3.
to act as attorney for
4.
to deny or oppose the right of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or a wrong charged) - contest
5.
intransitive verb
to retain or seek to retain (as a title or position) against a challenge in a contest - they successfully defended their championship
1.
to take action against attack or challenge
2.
to play or be on - defense playing deep to defend against a pass
3.
to play against the high bidder in a card game
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
defend (verb)1.
to drive danger or attack away from
SYNONIMS:
bulwark, cover, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, wardRELATED WORDS:
avert, prevent; oppose, resist, withstand; battle, contend, fight, war; conserve, preserve, save; buffer, palisade, picket, wallNEAR ANTONYMS:
bombard, storm; beset, besiege, overrun; capitulate, cave, submit, yield2.
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
SYNONIMS:
defend, justify, support, upholdRELATED WORDS:
advocate, champion, espouse; confirm, vindicate, warrant; affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, insist, plead, proclaim, profess, protest, state; argue, debate, discuss; emphasize, stress, underline, underscoreNEAR ANTONYMS:
abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract, take back, withdraw; reverse, switch; controvert, disprove, rebut, refute