Synonyms for Defense
dɪˈfɛns or, esp. for 7,9 , ˈdi fɛnsde·fense

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defensenoun

   Antonyms:
   offense

2. defensenoun

   Antonyms:
   offense

3. defensenoun

   Antonyms:
   offense

4. defensenoun

   Antonyms:
   offense

5. defensenoun

   Department of Defense

   Antonyms:
   offense

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defense

   The weak may speak or act in defense of the strong; none but the powerful can assure others of protection. A defense is ordinarily against actual attack; protection is against possible as well as actual dangers. We speak of defense against an assault, protection from the cold. Vindication is a triumphant defense of character and conduct against charges of error or wrong. Compare APOLOGY.

   Synonyms:
   apology, bulwark, fortress, guard, justification, protection, rampart, resistance, safeguard, shelter, shield, vindication

   Antonyms:
   abandonment, betrayal, capitulation, desertion, flight, surrender

   Preposition:
   Defense against assault or assailants; in law, defense to an action, from the testimony.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defense

   Synonyms:
   resistance, protection, vindication, plea, justification, excuse, rampart, bulwark, apology, shelter, guard

   Antonyms:
   abandonment, surrender, betrayal, exposure

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defense, defence, defensive measurenoun

   (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies

   "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program"

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   criminal prosecution, prosecution, offense, offence

2. defense, defencenoun

   protection from harm

   "sanitation is the best defense against disease"

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   criminal prosecution, prosecution, offense, offence

3. defense, defence, defending teamnoun

   (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring

   "his teams are always good on defense"

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   prosecution, offence, offense, criminal prosecution

4. defense, defence, vindicationnoun

   the justification for some act or belief

   "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory"

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, exoneration, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   prosecution, offense, criminal prosecution, offence

5. defense mechanism, defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defencenoun

   (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   criminal prosecution, prosecution, offense, offence

6. Department of Defense, Defense Department, United States Department of Defense, Defense, DoDnoun

   the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947

   Synonyms:
   defence reaction, refutation, demurrer, denial, defense force, defending team, defensive measure, defence, defence mechanism, vindication, defence force, defense team, defense mechanism, defense reaction, defensive structure, defense lawyers

   Antonyms:
   offence, offense, criminal prosecution, prosecution

7. defense, defence, defense team, defense lawyersnoun

   the defendant and his legal advisors collectively

   "the defense called for a mistrial"

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   offence, prosecution, offense, criminal prosecution

8. refutation, defense, defencenoun

   the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions

   "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it"

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, falsification, defensive measure, demurrer, defence reaction, disproof, vindication, defense reaction, refutal, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, falsifying, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   prosecution, offense, offence, criminal prosecution

9. defense, defence, defense force, defence forcenoun

   an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack

   "he joined the defense against invasion"

   Synonyms:
   defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

   Antonyms:
   offense, offence, criminal prosecution, prosecution

10. defensive structure, defense, defencenoun

    a structure used to defend against attack

    "the artillery battered down the defenses"

    Synonyms:
    defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

    Antonyms:
    offense, criminal prosecution, prosecution, offence

11. defense, defence, denial, demurrernoun

    a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him

    "he gave evidence for the defense"

    Synonyms:
    defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, self-abnegation, vindication, defense reaction, disaffirmation, defense lawyers, self-renunciation, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, demurral, abnegation, defense, defence force, demur, self-denial

    Antonyms:
    criminal prosecution, offense, prosecution, offence

12. defense, defencenoun

    the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury

    "a good boxer needs a good defense"; "defense against hurricanes is an urgent problem"

    Synonyms:
    defense team, defence mechanism, defensive structure, demurrer, defence reaction, vindication, defense reaction, defense lawyers, defending team, denial, defense mechanism, defense force, refutation, defensive measure, defence, defense, defence force

    Antonyms:
    prosecution, offense, offence, criminal prosecution

Matched Categories

1. • Answer
   • Executive Department
   • Justification
   • Military
   • Military Action
   • Organization
   • Process
   • Protection
   • Psychoanalytic Process
   • Structure

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defensenoun

   Synonyms:
   protection, defending, maintenance, guard, protection, palisade, rampart, bulwark, fortress, blockhouse, fortification, earthwork, breastwork, shield, armor, stockade, buckler, redoubt, remblai, palladium, garrison, ravelin, reliance, muniment, machicolation, vindication, advocacy, plea, excuse

   Antonyms:
   betrayal, exposure, surrender, abandonment, capitulation

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "defense":

   defence, defensive, défense, defending, defend, defenses, defensa, self-defense, military, advocacy

Suggested Resources

1. defense

   The defense symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the defense symbol and its characteristic.

2. Defense

   Defence vs. Defense -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Defence and Defense.

How to pronounce Defense?

How to say Defense in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use Defense in a sentence?

1. Adam Borland:

   Healthy paranoia or healthy anxiety can keep us aware and alert as a defense mechanism and protect ourselves from potential threats.

2. Lara Yeretsian:

   At this point, we have a shot at a new trial because of the Supreme Court sending the court back saying there’s an issue here, one of the jurors was not completely truthful, she hid the fact that she was a victim of domestic violence – not just once, but twice, there was a lot she should have been telling the defense and the prosecutions and keeping that crucial information from all the parties involved showed that she was a partial juror with an agenda.

3. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

   First, it goes against the statements of the nominated defense secretary a few days ago. We have to see what it will yield in terms of U.S. foreign policy. The same goes for the statements on trade policy, we count on the U.S. to stick to its international obligations, including in the World Trade Organization.

4. Lake County:

   I am excited to bring up the Second Amendment Sanctuary County Resolution because you usually only hear from Second Amendment supporters reactively on defense, rather than pro-actively on offense, with our Second Amendment rights, guaranteed to us by our Constitution, under attack at all levels of government, I believe it is important for the Sarasota County Commission to make it clear -- to the citizens we represent -- where their local government stands on this issue.

5. David Stearns:

   I know a lot of attention has been understandably placed on the offensive side of the ball, but one constant around some of the better teams in baseball is really solid, consistent defense, when we’ve had our most successful seasons here, we’ve had very good defensive teams and that’s something that is a focus of ours. It’s something we think we can and should accomplish, and this move allows us to move in that direction.