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
But just as roster construction contributed to the quality of defense, that same construction contributed to the struggles of the offense.
—
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The agreements also take aim at China’s control and manipulation of the global production of heavy rare earths, which are used for making powerful, heat-resistant magnets in industries such as defense and electric vehicles.
—ABC News, 4 May 2026
Horner’s mother was one of the first defense witnesses to testify last week as Horner’s lawyers try to convince the jury that he should be sentenced to life in prison without parole instead of the death penalty.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Aside from a couple of bad quarters, the Knicks have been able to effectively manage the Hawks' defense.
—David Troy, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defense
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The agreements also take aim at China’s control and manipulation of the global production of heavy rare earths, which are used for making powerful, heat-resistant magnets in industries such as defense and electric vehicles.
—ABC News, 4 May 2026
Horner’s mother was one of the first defense witnesses to testify last week as Horner’s lawyers try to convince the jury that he should be sentenced to life in prison without parole instead of the death penalty.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Aside from a couple of bad quarters, the Knicks have been able to effectively manage the Hawks' defense.
—David Troy, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense
Noun
-
When Yoon was in office, Kim was embroiled in a series of scandals that hurt her husband’s approval rating and provided relentless political ammunition to his rivals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
When Yoon was in office, Kim was embroiled in scandals that hurt her husband’s approval rating and provided political ammunition to his rivals.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Now, with a new head coach, new quarterback and a 12-team College Football Playoff, the excuses for the Nittany Lions to not make it to the postseason are running out.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
The plot is little more than an excuse to string together a series of fight scenes, emulating the experience of playing the games.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
On almost any other night, being without Town’s playmaking or Robinson’s rim protection and rebounding dominance would tank the Knicks.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
-
Which means all the due process protections afforded to defendants in criminal courts do not necessarily apply to non-citizens facing deportation.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The women who came and went through my father’s successive households, each one absorbing the doctrine that the intensity of his desire was sufficient justification.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
Soldier Field, Rate Field and even Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis loom over the landscape, marking steel and concrete warnings and justifications for a new stadium deal.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Golov argued that a nuclear-only agreement would leave Iran free to rebuild a missile shield protecting a future nuclear breakout.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
The all-gold logo, a feature in line with the president's taste as he's designed his signature properties and parts of the White House, also features a crest shield over the bird’s body with stars and stripes.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The assassination attempt failed — and Hinckley was arrested, tried and found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982.—
Kelsie Cairns,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
McCollum’s line was one of the biggest reasons the game never got complicated.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Graf further noted that safeguards are already in place to protect the integrity of the proceedings, including limits on camera placement, courtroom decorum rules and restrictions on what attorneys can say publicly about the case.—
Adam Sabes , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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That means rules for high-risk uses of AI in employment, housing, lending, health care, education and public services, strong consumer privacy protections, safeguards against deepfakes and fraud and special protections for children.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Those warrants include possession of a weapon, burglary and theft of a firearm.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
Key weapon deliveries have been diverted, with President Volodymyr Zelensky telling CNN last week supplies of anti-ballistic missiles have suffered because of limited production capacity in the US.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defense. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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