Defend
Defend verb - To continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections.
Usage example: she will pigheadedly defend any claim regardless of all evidence to the contrary
Maintain is a synonym for defend in support topic. In some cases you can use "Maintain" instead a verb "Defend", when it comes to topics like protect, assure, show support for. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
| life | defend life | maintain life |
| position | defend position | maintain position |
| reputation | defend reputation | maintain reputation |
| place | defend place | maintain place |
| Other words: world. | ||
Both words in one sentence
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In Command & Conquer: Renegade's multiplayer, Engineers are indispensable: they can help defend and maintain the base, repair vehicles, and are an essential component in any APC raid on an enemy base.
Source: The Engineer -
Hive Queen: The Queen, which is supposed to stay in base to force hatcheries to spawn additional Larvae, while also helping to maintain, strengthen, and defend, though they also make excellent support units.
Source: Video Game / StarCraft II - While these are supposed to defend Earth from any alien aggressor, everybody knows they're pea shooters compared to what the aliens have, but nobody complains about being taxed to maintain them.
Cite this Source
Maintain and Defend. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/maintain
Defend & Maintain. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/maintain>.
Maintain or Defend. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/maintain.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defend" and "maintain" have occurred on timeline