The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - defendv.

1) protect, watch over, guard, safeguard, keep (safe) , shelter, shield, screen, preserve; fight for: We must defend our civil rights. 2) fortify, arm, secure; fend or ward off, parry: Can you defend your position from attack? 3 plead for, speak or stand up for, stick up for, go to bat for, support, uphold, stand by, champion, stand with or behind or beside, argue for or in behalf of, hold a brief for, espouse: The lawyers defended her right to free speech.