Defend and Overrun

Defend

Defend verb - To drive danger or attack away from.
Usage example: a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost

Overrun is an antonym for defend.

Overrun

Overrun verb - To enter for conquest or plunder.
Usage example: waves of barbarians overran the Roman Empire during its long decline

Defend is an antonym for overrun.

Common collocations

position defend position overrun position
place defend place overrun place
station defend station overrun station
base defend base overrun base
Other words: capital, time, earth, world, decision, territory, country, planet, anyone, town, city, homeland, planets.

Both words in one sentence

  • If you're trying desperately to defend a position, you don't want to be overrun by the soldiers you've already killed.
  • Literature / World War Z They were the only ones who actually took the threat seriously and took steps to defend against it before their country was completely overrun.
  • Film / We Were Soldiers Call to Agriculture: Galloway ends up having to take a rifle and help defend the wounded troops when the battalion's HQ is overrun.
Cite this Source
Overrun and Defend. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/overrun
Defend & Overrun. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/overrun>.
Overrun or Defend. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/overrun.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defend" and "overrun" have occurred on timeline