bulwark

noun

bul·wark | \ ˈbu̇l-(ˌ)wərk,

-ˌwȯrk; ˈbəl-(ˌ)wərk; sense 3 also ˈbə-ˌläk\

Definition of bulwark

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

bulwark

verb

bulwarked; bulwarking; bulwarks

Definition of bulwark (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to fortify or safeguard with a bulwark ability to bulwark a moral choice— Margaret Mead

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about bulwark

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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 agai nst a terrorist attack

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The bulwark against this technology may in fact lay in the courts. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Can Anyone Stop Our Slide into Face-Scanning Dystopia?," 9 Nov. 2018 All three joined the European Union and NATO in 2004 and are strong backers of the military alliance, which sees them as a bulwark against Russian incursions in Eastern Europe. — Nicole Winfield And Maria Grazia Murru, Fox News, "Pope begins Baltics pilgrimage as Russia threat looms large," 22 Sep. 2018 For the vast majority of the US government, Eastern Europe is still a region with irreplaceable strategic importance to American interests and is America’s main bulwark against westward Russian expansion. — Michal Kranz, Vox, "Why Eastern European countries aren’t attacking Trump over NATO," 26 July 2018 Emissions from the fires were contributing to global warming, it was feared, and the harvesting of wood for cooking was helping to diminish forests, one of nature’s carbon-absorbing bulwarks against greenhouse gases. — Sara Morrison, USA TODAY, "In developing world, an expensive push to reduce cooking fire deaths falls short," 13 July 2018 In doing so, Mr. Cuomo, who faces a re-election primary battle in September, continues to position himself as a liberal bulwark to the Trump administration. — Jesse Mckinley, New York Times, "As Cuomo Rallies for Abortion Rights, Nixon Questions His Bona Fides," 10 July 2018 As companies deploy encryption and other bulwarks against government prying, law enforcement authorities have grown increasingly frustrated. — Jon Schuppe /, NBC News, "The cat-and-mouse fight to fix — and exploit — iPhone's security flaws," 15 June 2018 The party sprang not from trade unions but from elites desperate to establish a bulwark against communism after the end of military rule in the mid-1970s. — The Economist, "Social democracy is floundering everywhere in Europe, except Portugal," 12 Apr. 2018 Some supply chains may need to be rerouted away from China, although such interdependence is one bulwark against conflict. — Richard N. Haass, WSJ, "The Crisis in U.S.-China Relations," 19 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Even Einstein, the prototypical loner, was bulwarked by a vast correspondence of arguing and discussion. — Dennis Overbye, New York Times, "Bob Dylan Won. But in Science, the Times They Aren’t A-Changin’.," 31 Oct. 2016

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.