Attack
Attack verb - To take sudden, violent action against.
Usage example: our dog unexpectedly attacked the mailman, sinking his teeth into the startled man's leg
Defend is an antonym for attack in topics: assault, set to work, assault physically, assault verbally.
Defend
Defend verb - To drive danger or attack away from.
Usage example: a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- In the first Armored Core, similar to Fable's 'attack the farm' quest, there are two missions to either attack or defend some cargo, I believe, and attacking it pays more.
Source: Evil Pays Better - The student is given a large amount of information on his side's forces and the notional enemy's, and told to plan to attack or defend against attack.
Source: Hidden Purpose Test - For example, there's a quest to either attack or defend a farm, but attacking it pays 250 more gold.
Source: Evil Pays Better
Cite this Source
Defend and Attack. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/defend
Attack & Defend. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/defend>.
Defend or Attack. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/defend.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "attack" and "defend" have occurred on timeline