as in guardian
someone that protects
one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defender
Boston defender Rylind MacKinnon was fined $500 by the league for an incident that ensued in the Fleet's 4-0 victory over the Toronto Sceptres on Friday night.
—
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Jones is an elite defender who can score through doubles and junk defenses, and is lethal from 3, shooting 41% from distance in her career.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
To cap the scoring run, Gianna Kneepkens flipped a pass to Betts, who spun around for a layup as defenders attempted to drag her down.
—Haley Sawyer, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
The elite scoring skills of Blakes, who has a strong sidekick in freshman point guard Aubrey Galvan, could be tested by one of the nation’s best defenders.
—Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defender
CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Jones is an elite defender who can score through doubles and junk defenses, and is lethal from 3, shooting 41% from distance in her career.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
To cap the scoring run, Gianna Kneepkens flipped a pass to Betts, who spun around for a layup as defenders attempted to drag her down.
—Haley Sawyer, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
The elite scoring skills of Blakes, who has a strong sidekick in freshman point guard Aubrey Galvan, could be tested by one of the nation’s best defenders.
—Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defender
Noun
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Children under 13 can’t create an account without a guardian.—
Amy Thomson,
Bloomberg,
25 Mar. 2026
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If a student is caught with a device anytime after, it will be confiscated until their parent or guardian can pick it up.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Athletic coaches, people responding to emergencies, people supervising inmates, custodians, and people helping children who need bathroom assistance get a pass.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
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After the Soviet Union collapsed, the United States spent years — and billions of dollars through the Nunn-Lugar program — scrambling to secure biological, chemical, and nuclear stockpiles that suddenly had no reliable custodian.—
Ashish K. Jha,
STAT,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Accordingly, it's better represented in your portfolio as an income protector when other assets look shaky.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Hudson has graded out as a poor pass protector at Pro Football Focus for most of his career.—
Andrew Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These connections raise broader questions about how Epstein was able to maintain influence, credibility, and protection across borders for so long.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Reversing those protections now would not be neutral.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The bodyguard who allegedly confronted soccer star Jorginho’s stepdaughter during an encounter with Chappell Roan in São Paulo, Brazil over the weekend has issued a mea culpa for the incident and taken full blame.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
26 Mar. 2026
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Continue reading … VETTING FAILURE — Far-left firebrand dodges questions over hiring bodyguard with criminal history.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defender. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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