抗辩

to counter accusations / to protest / to remonstrate / to retort / to plead / to demur / a plea (of not guilty) / a defense (against an allegation) / to enter a plea to a charge (in a law court)

to resist / to fight / to defy / anti-

to dispute / to debate / to argue / to discuss

plea of not guilty

to plead (not guilty) / to enter a plea