Definition of bulwark
1a : a solid wall-like structure raised for defense : rampartb : 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
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Examples of bulwark in a Sentence
democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny
Recent Examples of bulwark from the Web
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Turkey, long a bulwark against Soviet (later Russian) adventurism, has started to look wobbly.
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And now liberal America turns to an opaque national-security apparatus, and one of its chief defenders in Wittes, as a bulwark against creeping fascism.
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Suggesting that Poland was a bulwark against forces that would destroy Western civilization, Trump warned of the increased power of international organizations that threaten to undermine national sovereignty.
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St. Laurent positioned Canada as a bulwark of political freedom, that would co-operate with like-minded countries while maintaining dialogue with adversaries.
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European political institutions create a bulwark against radicalism.
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The safe did what safes do and provided a bulwark of defense not in being clever, but by being large and obnoxious.
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So this act has created a bulwark against these issues.
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The foreign conglomerate du jour benefits and the area stays alive, but the town’s bulwark now rests on softer ground.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bulwark.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of bulwark
Middle English bulwerke, from Middle Dutch bolwerc, from bolle tree trunk + werc work
bulwark
Definition of bulwark
transitive verb
: to fortify or safeguard with a bulwark ability to bulwark a moral choice — Margaret Mead
Examples of bulwark in a Sentence
vowed to use any means necessary to bulwark the country agai nst a terrorist attack
Recent Examples of bulwark from the Web
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Even Einstein, the prototypical loner, was bulwarked by a vast correspondence of arguing and discussion.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bulwark.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of bulwark
see 1bulwark
BULWARK Defined for English Language Learners
bulwark
playDefinition of bulwark for English Language Learners
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: something that provides protection for or against something
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: a wall that is built for protection
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: a wall that is part of a ship's sides and that is above the ship's upper deck
BULWARK Defined for Kids
bulwark
playDefinition of bulwark for Students
1 : a solid structure like a wall built for defense against an enemy
2 : something that defends or protects
Learn More about bulwark
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See words that rhyme with bulwark Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bulwark Spanish Central: Translation of bulwark Nglish: Translation of bulwark for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bulwark for Arabic speakers
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