defend
v.v. to protect someone or something from an attack. You can also use it to mean supporting an idea when other people criticize it.
v. to protect from harm or danger; to support an argument or person against criticism. In a legal context, to represent a defendant in a court of law.
The soldiers fought hard to defend their city.
The lawyer had to defend her client against several serious charges during the trial.
While the captain was praised for how he chose to defend the goal, the manager had to defend the team's overall strategy to the press.
From Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, deffendre (Modern French défendre), from Latin dēfendō (“to ward off”), from Proto-Italic fendō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰen-. Displaced native Old English bewerian.
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
defend from the criticismdefend against the criticismWhile you can defend someone 'from' harm, when talking about attacks or arguments, 'against' is the standard preposition.