1
as in ammunition
means or method of defending
thorns are a rose's defense against grazing animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
there's absolutely no defense for your actions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defense
Still, Booz Allen, which is a major defense and national security technology firm, maintains extensive government contracts with other agencies, including the Defense Department, Homeland Security and various intelligence agencies.
—
News Service Reports, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
Now, the best of defenses will swarm him with size and force him to shoot over the top.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Holding space for your interests, priorities and life circumstances is good offense, but a crazy job market also requires strong career defense, such as plugging up your financial foundation and skill gaps.
—Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defense
News Service Reports, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
Now, the best of defenses will swarm him with size and force him to shoot over the top.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Holding space for your interests, priorities and life circumstances is good offense, but a crazy job market also requires strong career defense, such as plugging up your financial foundation and skill gaps.
—Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense
Noun
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According to Safavi, Ebrahimi was shot with live ammunition by Iran’s security forces during protests against the clerical regime.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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No one’s private health records should be turned into political ammunition — especially children.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In short, there’s no excuse for a lack of wellness support.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Making up excuses for things not to go perfectly would have been easy with the team dealing with illnesses.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Free-solo climber Alex Honnold was reportedly paid about $500,000 to climb the Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or protection, an act that carried a nontrivial risk of death.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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These plans are not insurance, and therefore not subject to the Affordable Care Act's rules or protections, says Joann Volk, a professor at Georgetown University who studies private insurance markets.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Video footage and eyewitness accounts have raised serious questions about the justification for lethal force.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Hours after the killing of Alex Pretti, an American citizen, at the hands of a federal agent in Minneapolis, a top Missouri Republican pointed specifically at the man’s gun as justification for the shooting.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As an Earth-orbiting spacecraft descends, temperatures of up to 3,500°F bloom across the heat shield at the bottom of the capsule.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
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Or the good swarm comes to your aid and serves as your shield and protector.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The internet and Black art triggered awe for completely different, profound reasons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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One reason is a viral video that shows Pretti standing over the body of a veteran who died and honoring his service.—
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Each reduces internal noise and safeguards clear thinking when the stakes are high.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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The two safeguards are often in tension with one another, with different factions disputing which takes priority.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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He was arrested in 2006 for possession of a weapon and theft, according to The New York Post, and was arrested for burglary in 2023 after allegedly entering a building in Hackensack, New Jersey.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Just over one second after the officer emerges holding the weapon, a shot rings out, followed by at least 9 more, according to videos.—
Thomas Bordeaux,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defense. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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