defend convictions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defend convictions" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of standing up for one's beliefs or principles, often in the context of a debate or argument. Example: "In the face of criticism, she was determined to defend her convictions and stand by her values."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"I was angry," he said then, "that I was being put in a position to defend convictions that I didn't believe in".

The New York Times

"I was angry that I was being put in a position to defend convictions that I didn't believe in," he said at the time.

The New York Times

"All of us are at risk if prosecutors believe their commitment is not to fairness and reliability but to win and defend convictions at all costs," Jones wrote.

Vice

The office of Attorney General Jim Hood continues to defend convictions that were won on the basis of West's testimony, including those of Howard and Stubbs.

Huffington Post

Mississippi prosecutors no longer use West as a witness, but state Attorney General Jim Hood continues to defend convictions won because of his testimony.

Huffington Post

Neither has Attorney General Jim Hood, whose office continues to defend convictions won primarily on the testimony one or both of the men have given on the witness stand.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

And yet Mississippi prosecutors still defended convictions won on West's testimony, and Mississippi judges still upheld them.

Huffington Post

But there are still people in prison based on his testimony, and Hood continues to defend those convictions, including the conviction of one man sitting on death row.

Huffington Post

MacLeish replied: "The man who refuses to defend his convictions, for fear he may defend them in the wrong company, has no convictions".

The Guardian - Opinion

If you have to defend your convictions or feel the "need" to respond at all when someone "insults" your convictions, then you probably don't have a very strong "conviction" in the first place.

WikiHow

In one instance, a former assistant district attorney, Daniel L. Bibb, said his bosses had urged him to defend the convictions in the 1990 Palladium nightclub shooting at a hearing, even though he believed that the two defendants were not guilty.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defend convictions", ensure the context clearly indicates the convictions being defended. Providing specific examples or elaborating on the nature of these convictions enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "defend convictions" in vague contexts. Instead of saying someone "defends their convictions", specify what those convictions are and why they are being challenged.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defend convictions" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It describes the act of upholding and protecting one's deeply held beliefs or principles. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "defend convictions" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of advocating for and protecting one's deeply held beliefs. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. Related phrases include "uphold beliefs" and "stand by principles", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are key to avoid vagueness and to convey the strength and nature of the convictions being defended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uphold beliefs

Focuses on maintaining and supporting beliefs, emphasizing a steadfast adherence.

stand by principles

Highlights the act of supporting principles, emphasizing moral integrity.

advocate beliefs

Emphasizes active support and promotion of certain beliefs.

champion ideals

Suggests a strong and passionate defense of specific ideals.

support values

Focuses on endorsing and reinforcing core values.

assert convictions

Highlights confidently stating one's deeply held beliefs.

maintain principles

Focuses on preserving principles.

validate beliefs

Highlights the effort to confirm the truth or rationale behind one's beliefs.

justify convictions

Focuses on providing a rationale for holding certain beliefs.

vindicate beliefs

Emphasizes clearing beliefs from accusation or doubt.

FAQs

How can I use "defend convictions" in a sentence?

You can use "defend convictions" to describe someone standing up for their beliefs, as in, "She had to "defend convictions" against strong opposition".

What's a more formal way to say "defend convictions"?

A more formal alternative could be "uphold principles" or "assert beliefs", depending on the nuance you want to convey. Upholding principles /s/uphold+principles emphasizes maintaining moral standards, while asserting beliefs /s/assert+beliefs highlights confidently stating deeply held beliefs.

Is it better to say "defend convictions" or "defend beliefs"?

"Defend convictions" and "defend beliefs" are quite similar. However, "convictions" implies a stronger, more deeply held set of beliefs than just "beliefs".

What does it mean to "defend convictions"?

To "defend convictions" means to actively support and argue in favor of one's deeply held beliefs, especially when those beliefs are challenged or questioned.