Antonyms of verb defend

2 of 7 senses of defend

Sense 2
defend -- (be on the defensive; act against an attack)
       Antonym of attack (Sense 1)
      => attack, assail -- (launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week")

Sense 6
defend, represent -- (be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant")
       Antonym of prosecute (Sense 2)
      => prosecute -- (bring a criminal action against (in a trial); "The State of California prosecuted O.J. Simpson")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb defend

7 senses of defend

Sense 1
defend, support, fend for -- (argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike")
       => argue, reason -- (present reasons and arguments)

Sense 2
defend -- (be on the defensive; act against an attack)
       => prevent, keep -- (stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state; "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles")

Sense 3
defend, guard, hold -- (protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks")
       => protect -- (shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage; "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain")

Sense 4
fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend -- (fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!")
       => contend, fight, struggle -- (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country")

Sense 5
champion, defend -- (protect or fight for as a champion)
       => back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support -- (be behind; approve of; "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960")

Sense 6
defend, represent -- (be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant")

Sense 7
maintain, defend -- (state or assert; "He maintained his innocence")
       => affirm -- (say yes to)

Antonyms of adj defending

1 sense of defending

Sense 1
defending -- (attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring)

INDIRECT (VIA defensive) -> offensive -- (for the purpose of attack rather than defense; "offensive weapons")

Similarity of adj defending

1 sense of defending

Sense 1
defending -- (attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring)
       => defensive (vs. offensive) -- (intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance")