bul·wark
ˈbu̇l-(ˌ)wərk 
-ˌwȯrk;
ˈbəl-(ˌ)wərk;
sense 3 also ˈbə-ˌläk
1
a
: a solid wall-like structure raised for defense : rampart
b
: breakwater, seawall
building a bulwark in the harbor
2
: a strong support or protection
democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny
a bulwark of freedom
3
nautical
: the side of a ship above the upper deck
—usually used in plural
bulwarked; bulwarking; bulwarks
: to fortify or safeguard with a bulwark
ability to bulwark a moral choice—
Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead
Synonyms
Examples of bulwark in a Sentence
Noun
democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny
Verb
vowed to use any means necessary to bulwark the country against a terrorist attack
Recent Examples on the WebJulia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2023
Next: Peel up the street cobbles and stack them any which way—so long as the bulwark is tall enough to hide a regiment of street fighters and a squadron of women with rocks in their aprons.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
Niger was seen as the Sahel’s final bulwark against chaos and instability, the last regime standing.
—Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2023
Some Israelis have seen the court as a bulwark against a system that has relatively few other checks and balances — the country has no Constitution, and just one house of Parliament.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 24 July 2023
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan said on Friday that his country would start formal talks with the Philippines to allow the deployment of Japanese troops to the Southeast Asian country, further strengthening ties between two countries that have embraced each other as bulwarks against China.
—Camille Elemia, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
What these arguments assume is that the Democratic Party only exists to bail out Republicans from their mistakes and provide a bulwark against their own worst instincts; never to ask for conditions or make demands or participate meaningfully in the policymaking process.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 5 Oct. 2023
For its part, the Biden administration will have to weigh siding with one of its staunchest allies against its desire to cultivate closer ties with India as an economic partner and potential bulwark against Chinese influence in much of the world.
—Greg Miller, Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2023
The opposition considers the court a guarantor of Israel’s secular character, a protector of its minorities, and a bulwark against authoritarianism.
—Patrick Kingsley, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023
John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Nov. 2023
But this was probably the draft Chicago needed to bulwark a talent-deficient roster around QB Justin Fields – and don't forget the package from Carolina for the No. 1 pick also brought WR1 Moore, who's under contract for three more years.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2023
The Arizona Cardinals, having traded down from the third pick to the 11th, then traded back up to the sixth pick, selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. to bulwark an offensive line ravaged by injuries in 2022.
—Mike Tanier, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2023
And bulwarking a defense that hasn't ranked better than 22nd since 2018 is long overdue.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2023
Presidential blue-ribbon panels bulwarked the Social Security program in 1983 and overhauled NASA’s space shuttle program after the 1986 Challenger disaster.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2023
In other wildlife news, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is hiring its first-ever beaver restoration unit, which will work with beavers to help bulwark natural systems against climate change, Nathan Solis writes.
—Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022
The goal is to bulwark oil and gas against ambitious climate change policies by claiming the moral high ground — even as those fuels kindle a global crisis that disproportionately harms people who aren’t white.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2020
The company is hoping to bulwark itself in an uncertain economy.
—Lucinda Shen, Fortune, 4 May 2020
See More
Noun
The low bulwarks and lateral walkways continue a sense of space.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2023
Next: Peel up the street cobbles and stack them any which way—so long as the bulwark is tall enough to hide a regiment of street fighters and a squadron of women with rocks in their aprons.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
Niger was seen as the Sahel’s final bulwark against chaos and instability, the last regime standing.
—Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2023
Some Israelis have seen the court as a bulwark against a system that has relatively few other checks and balances — the country has no Constitution, and just one house of Parliament.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 24 July 2023
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan said on Friday that his country would start formal talks with the Philippines to allow the deployment of Japanese troops to the Southeast Asian country, further strengthening ties between two countries that have embraced each other as bulwarks against China.
—Camille Elemia, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
What these arguments assume is that the Democratic Party only exists to bail out Republicans from their mistakes and provide a bulwark against their own worst instincts; never to ask for conditions or make demands or participate meaningfully in the policymaking process.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 5 Oct. 2023
For its part, the Biden administration will have to weigh siding with one of its staunchest allies against its desire to cultivate closer ties with India as an economic partner and potential bulwark against Chinese influence in much of the world.
—Greg Miller, Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2023
The opposition considers the court a guarantor of Israel’s secular character, a protector of its minorities, and a bulwark against authoritarianism.
—Patrick Kingsley, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023
Verb
That prompted senior sales agents to suggest that the traditional sales model, bulwarked on the strength of ancillary sales to TV in Europe, haS now broken.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Nov. 2023
But this was probably the draft Chicago needed to bulwark a talent-deficient roster around QB Justin Fields – and don't forget the package from Carolina for the No. 1 pick also brought WR1 Moore, who's under contract for three more years.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2023
The Arizona Cardinals, having traded down from the third pick to the 11th, then traded back up to the sixth pick, selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. to bulwark an offensive line ravaged by injuries in 2022.
—Mike Tanier, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2023
And bulwarking a defense that hasn't ranked better than 22nd since 2018 is long overdue.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2023
Presidential blue-ribbon panels bulwarked the Social Security program in 1983 and overhauled NASA’s space shuttle program after the 1986 Challenger disaster.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2023
In other wildlife news, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is hiring its first-ever beaver restoration unit, which will work with beavers to help bulwark natural systems against climate change, Nathan Solis writes.
—Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022
The goal is to bulwark oil and gas against ambitious climate change policies by claiming the moral high ground — even as those fuels kindle a global crisis that disproportionately harms people who aren’t white.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2020
The company is hoping to bulwark itself in an uncertain economy.
—Lucinda Shen, Fortune, 4 May 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bulwark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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Cite this Entry
“Bulwark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulwark. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
bulwark
noun
bul·wark
ˈbu̇l-(ˌ)wərk,
-ˌwȯrk;
ˈbəl-(ˌ)wərk
1
: a solid structure like a wall built for defense
2
: a strong support or protection
3
: the side of a ship above the upper deck
—usually used in plural
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bulwerke "bulwark," from early Dutch bolwerc (same meaning) — related to boulevard
More from Merriam-Webster on bulwark
Nglish: Translation of bulwark for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of bulwark for Arabic Speakers
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