withstand vs defend

withstand and defend both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
withstand	No	No	Yes	No
defend	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, defend is a hypernym of withstand; that is, defend is a word with a broader meaning than withstand:

Other hypernyms of withstand include fight, fight back, fight down, oppose.

withstand (verb)	defend (verb)
stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something	argue or speak in defense of
resist or confront with resistance	state or assert
	be on the defensive; act against an attack
	protect against a challenge or attack
	protect or fight for as a champion
	fight against or resist strongly
	be the defense counsel for someone in a trial