What are some opposite words for defend?
Antonyms for defend
dɪˈfɛndde·fend
This page is about all possible antonyms and opposite words for the term defend.
Wiktionary
English Synonyms and Antonyms
defend
Keep, signifying generally to have and retain in possession, is the terse, strong Saxon term for many acts which are more exactly discriminated by other words. We keep, observe, or celebrate a festival; we keep or hold a prisoner in custody; we keep or preserve silence, keep the peace, preserve order — preserve being the more formal word; we keep or maintain a horse, a servant, etc.; a man supports his family; we keep or obey a commandment; keep or fulfil a promise. In the expressions to keep a secret, keep one's own counsel, keep faith, or keep the faith, such words as preserve or maintain could not be substituted without loss. A person keeps a shop or store, conducts or carries on a business; he keeps or carries a certain line of goods; we may keep or restrain one from folly, crime, or violence; we keep from or refrain from evil, ourselves. Keep in the sense of guard or defend implies that the defense is effectual. Compare CELEBRATE; RESTRAIN.
Synonyms:
carry, carry on, celebrate, conduct, detain, fulfil, guard, hold, keep, maintain, obey, observe, preserve, protect, refrain, restrain, retain, support, sustain, withholdPreposition:
Keep in hand, in mind, in or within the house; from evil; out of mischief; keep to the subject; keep for a person, an occasion, etc.
Princeton's WordNet
defend, support, fend forverb
argue or speak in defense of
"She supported the motion to strike"
Antonyms:
attack, prosecute, assailSynonyms:
fight, digest, abide, tolerate, support, oppose, suffer, plunk for, hold up, endure, guard, stick out, confirm, fend for, patronise, back, back up, keep going, put up, corroborate, endorse, stomach, represent, fight back, bear out, affirm, subscribe, brook, indorse, patronage, stand, sustain, maintain, fight down, patronize, underpin, substantiate, hold, plump for, champion, beardefendverb
be on the defensive; act against an attack
Antonyms:
prosecute, assail, attackSynonyms:
represent, oppose, maintain, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight downdefend, guard, holdverb
protect against a challenge or attack
"Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"
Antonyms:
prosecute, attack, assailSynonyms:
fight, book, retain, moderate, view as, support, apply, hold back, harbour, take hold, bind, deem, hold up, arrest, guard, take, have, concord, check, make, fend for, take for, go for, throw, defy, control, harbor, oppose, keep, obligate, ward, carry, give, adjudge, entertain, nurse, accommodate, represent, curb, fight back, confine, have got, restrain, withstand, agree, hold in, halt, contain, obtain, maintain, fight down, oblige, concur, keep back, sustain, prevail, reserve, admit, hold, declare, champion, bearfight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defendverb
fight against or resist strongly
"The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!"
Antonyms:
assail, attack, prosecuteSynonyms:
fight, play off, counterbalance, represent, agitate, champion, press, support, guard, hold, campaign, oppose, struggle, match, react, pit, controvert, fend for, contradict, contend, maintain, fight down, fight back, crusade, pushchampion, defendverb
protect or fight for as a champion
Antonyms:
attack, prosecute, assailSynonyms:
represent, oppose, maintain, champion, fight, fight back, support, guard, fend for, hold, fight downdefend, representverb
be the defense counsel for someone in a trial
"Ms. Smith will represent the defendant"
Antonyms:
prosecute, assail, attackSynonyms:
fight, stand for, act, typify, play, be, represent, champion, support, guard, hold, comprise, symbolise, interpret, map, fend for, exemplify, maintain, correspond, lay out, make up, symbolize, fight down, fight back, stage, oppose, present, constitutemaintain, defendverb
state or assert
"He maintained his innocence"
Antonyms:
attack, prosecute, assailSynonyms:
fight, asseverate, keep up, keep, conserve, champion, support, guard, wield, hold, sustain, assert, oppose, fight back, fend for, maintain, fight down, observe, uphold, preserve, exert, represent
Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words
Editors Contribution
attack
because attack opposite is defend
example - gain answer - lose
How to use defend in a sentence?
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:
The law allows residents inside their own homes to defend themselves, the one with the shotgun was able to shoot at the three males and they were all pronounced dead here at the scene.
We sent a Democrat to Congress to defend the president … to move a more progressive agenda, her votes … 54 percent of the time against Obama was not what I wanted from my member of Congress.
If the world stops them before, it's very muchgood. But if not, we must stand independently and we must defend ourselves by ourselves.
My clients will vigorously defend what they have said, but I will insist that the Assembly takes serious steps to ensure their protection against reprisal.
We are disappointed in the verdict both as it relates to Daniel Perry and as it relates to a citizen’s ability to defend themselves, sgt. Perry will, of course, appeal the verdict and we are hopeful that the case will ultimately be overturned on appeal.
Translation
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"defend." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.synonyms.com/antonyms/defend>.
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