defend — OAT · Shobdo

defend

verb

1 a tower built to defend Ireland from Napoleon's threatened invasion | we will defend freedom of speech:

protect, guard, safeguard, keep from harm, preserve, secure, shield, shelter, screen;

fortify, garrison, barricade;

fight for, uphold, support, be on the side of, take up cudgels for;

watch over, be the defender of.

▷antonyms attack.

2 he defended his policy of charging high interest rates:

justify, vindicate, argue/speak for, speak on behalf of, support, speak in support of, give an apologia for, make a case for, plead for, make excuses for, excuse, exonerate, palliate;

explain, give reasons for, give the rationale behind.

▷antonyms attack, criticize.

3 the manager defended his players:

support, speak in support of, back, stand by, stick up for, stand up for, argue for, champion, endorse, uphold, come to the defense of, sustain, bolster;

informal throw one's weight behind.

▷antonyms criticize.