- as injustification
- as inargument
- as inarmament(s)
- as inarmor
- as inassertion
- as inopposition
- as inparapet
- as inpreservation
- as inprotection
- as inrampart
- as inreason
- as inrebuttal
- as inrejoinder
- as inretreat
- as inrock
- as insafeguard
- as insafety
- as insanctuary
- as insecurity
- as inshelter
- as inshield
- as inbastion
- as intactics
- as inbehalf
- as inarmament
- as inescape mechanism
- as inbuffer
- as inbulwark
- as invindication
- as indefense mechanism
- as inpalisade
- as inapologia
- as inpolarity
- as incover
- as inadvocacy
- as indefense
- as indefense
- as indeterrent
- as inexcuse
- as infence
- as infoil
- as inanchor
- as infortification
- as inanswer
- as inapology
Synonyms for de-fenses
- apology
- approval
- argument
- basis
- confirmation
- explanation
- pretext
- rationale
- rationalization
- vindication
- absolution
- account
- acquittal
- advocacy
- answer
- apologia
- defense
- exculpation
- exoneration
- extenuation
- grounds
- idea
- mitigation
- palliation
- palliative
- plea
- rebuttal
- redemption
- reply
- response
- salvation
- sanctification
- story
- support
- validation
- warrant
- wherefore
- raison d'être
- song and dance
- whatfor
- whitewashing
- whole idea
- why and wherefore
MOST RELEVANT
Antonyms for de-fenses
MOST RELEVANT
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the
Philip Lief Group.
WORD ORIGIN
c.1300, "forbidding, prohibition," also "action of guarding or protecting," from Old French defense, from Latin defensus, past participle of defendere "ward off, protect" (see defend). But it also arrived (without the final -e) from Old French defens, from Latin defensum "thing protected or forbidden," neuter past participle of defendere.
Defens was assimilated into defense, but not before it inspired the alternative spelling defence, via the same tendency that produced hence (hennis), pence (penies), dunce (Duns). First used 1935 as a euphemism for "national military resources." Defense mechanism in psychology is from 1913.