as in defended
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as in safeguarded
to drive danger or attack away from
the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
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Recent Examples of protected
Marzio G. Mian, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
The southern coast of Tenerife is a hotspot environment for the conservation of cetaceans in the wild, particularly within the protected Teno-Rasca Special Conservation Zone.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia's blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—ABC News, 1 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, has cautioned that Malaysia’s under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—Eileen Ng, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
An informed voter is a protected democracy.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Officials said the outreach will also include information about changes affecting certain non-citizens, including refugees, asylees and others with protected status.
—City News Service, Daily News, 1 May 2026
The extra height makes the space feel more protected and cozy.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
If your income comes primarily from protected sources like Social Security or disability benefits, a court judgment may pose little immediate threat.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Janelle Ash , Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Peak whale watching season is between July and October—but resident pods of dolphins and sea turtles live in the warm, protected waters year-round.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
WhatsApp’s system requirements are updated every year to ensure the app is protected by the latest security updates.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Assets that are often better protected No asset is universally untouchable.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Most durable businesses are protected by network effects, switching costs, or regulatory barriers — advantages that can be modeled and sometimes replicated.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The tire bead is tough and protected by the wheel rim.
—Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
Bottlenose dolphins are protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA Fisheries.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
The Supreme Court is set to make a decision on TPS that protected Haitians and Syrians during the summer, and the result is expected to have an impact on all the other cases.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Adjective
And yet Sazan is also a protected area.
—Marzio G. Mian, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
The southern coast of Tenerife is a hotspot environment for the conservation of cetaceans in the wild, particularly within the protected Teno-Rasca Special Conservation Zone.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia's blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—ABC News, 1 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, has cautioned that Malaysia’s under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—Eileen Ng, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
An informed voter is a protected democracy.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Officials said the outreach will also include information about changes affecting certain non-citizens, including refugees, asylees and others with protected status.
—City News Service, Daily News, 1 May 2026
The extra height makes the space feel more protected and cozy.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
If your income comes primarily from protected sources like Social Security or disability benefits, a court judgment may pose little immediate threat.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
However, in June 2025, a federal judge dismissed Baldoni's countersuit, ruling that many of the statements at issue were legally protected and that the claims did not meet the legal standards required to proceed.
—Janelle Ash , Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Peak whale watching season is between July and October—but resident pods of dolphins and sea turtles live in the warm, protected waters year-round.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
WhatsApp’s system requirements are updated every year to ensure the app is protected by the latest security updates.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Assets that are often better protected No asset is universally untouchable.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Most durable businesses are protected by network effects, switching costs, or regulatory barriers — advantages that can be modeled and sometimes replicated.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The tire bead is tough and protected by the wheel rim.
—Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
Bottlenose dolphins are protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA Fisheries.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
The Supreme Court is set to make a decision on TPS that protected Haitians and Syrians during the summer, and the result is expected to have an impact on all the other cases.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protected
Adjective
-
Speaking at Fortune’s Workforce Innovation Summit on Tuesday, the 31-year-old defended sweeping workforce cuts at Bolt—including a recent layoff affecting roughly 30% of employees—as well as his decision to eliminate the company’s HR team.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
As in traditional sieges, the focus is on the vulnerable flow of supplies rather than a defended position.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted and fraternity is made possible.—
Pope Leo XIV,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
-
The veil has been torn from belief that marine choke points can be safeguarded, with international access kept open, by proximity of conventional forces.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
The team believes that the technology could become highly valuable in reactor research, post-irradiation examinations, and nuclear forensics investigations that involve shielded and hazardous materials.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
The ship itself is packed with detail from turrets through to tiny shielded hangars.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The gate was guarded by two Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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For much of the night, McBride also guarded Paige Bueckers, the former Hopkins High School standout, who led Dallas (7-4) with 23 points but had just two assists.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Security at the Kansas City Fan Festival, being held on the grounds of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, is to include metal detectors, a secured perimeter, entrance with clear bags, and access to the festival using a mobile app.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
-
As if to emphasize that point, Bass secured support from some of Raman’s political allies.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
That Ukraine's future in NATO was secure.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Pew found about 7 in 10 adults (71%) said that the use of AI will make personal information less secure.—
Emily Guskin,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protected. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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