protector, guardian, champion, advocate, supporter, backer, upholder, preserver, safeguard, custodian, sentinel, watchman, bodyguard, paladin, patron, shield, warder, guardian angel, protectorate, sec... [more]
protect - guard - shield - secure - safeguard - uphold - support - vindicate - justify - advocate - champion - preserve - cover - fortify - back - maintain - assert - stand up - fight for - stand by - bolster - sustain - endorse - argue for - plead for - espouse - stick up for - take up for - bear out - hold up - conserve - save - shelter - watch over - fend off - ward off - repulse - resist - counter - oppose - contest - rebut - refute - parry - deflect - block - intercept - withstand - buffer
To defend means to protect or guard against attack, harm, or danger. This can refer to physical defense, such as in sports or military, as well as legal defense, such as in a courtroom setting. In a broader sense, defending can also mean standing up for someone or something, ensuring its safety and security.