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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of protected
Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Representatives from the developer said on Monday that the city's ordinance did not list the blacksmith shop as a protected landmark and that demolition is in the best interest of the community.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Local companies offer half- and full-day excursions to the island and its protected ecosystem.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
By choosing a jurisdiction with strict privacy laws and tougher limits on photographing children, Clooney is effectively arbitraging legal regimes the way multinational corporations arbitrage tax codes—only here the protected asset is family life, not corporate profit.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Massie posted a letter on Wednesday from an FBI whistleblower’s attorney, who raised concerns about the bureau allegedly moving to retaliate against his client for making a protected disclosure to Congress related to the case, prompting a response from Bongino.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Nov. 2025
Oregon lawmakers added gender identity as a protected class under state anti-discrimination law in 2021.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Deutsch explained that architects have found lowering a ceiling makes a person feel more protected and comfortable.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
After walking away from the semi-protected working environment of Anderson’s film, Hoffman followed the advice of some peers and enrolled in an acting school in New York to hone his craft.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
High vaccination rates create a shield for those who can’t be fully protected during a measles outbreak.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Please make sure your home is properly winterized and protected from extreme cold.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Your snowboard and gear will also stay protected with 10 millimeters of dense, thick EPE foam throughout the entire bag.
—Nathan Allen, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2026
We are protected by the Constitution.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
This layered approach keeps your pattern protected and your look polished.
—Essence, 29 Jan. 2026
Made of thick steel and protected on all sides by sandbags, the capsule is strong enough to shield engineers from debris, but not from a direct hit.
—Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
They’ll be protected from the pressure Denver’s All-Pro defensive lineman Zach Allen and sack leader Nik Bonitto, a Pro Bowler, can impose on their offensive line.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
All the villas are secluded, surrounded by trees, well back from the main path and removed from the beach, so the lights don’t disorient the protected sea turtles.
—Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Representatives from the developer said on Monday that the city's ordinance did not list the blacksmith shop as a protected landmark and that demolition is in the best interest of the community.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Local companies offer half- and full-day excursions to the island and its protected ecosystem.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
By choosing a jurisdiction with strict privacy laws and tougher limits on photographing children, Clooney is effectively arbitraging legal regimes the way multinational corporations arbitrage tax codes—only here the protected asset is family life, not corporate profit.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Massie posted a letter on Wednesday from an FBI whistleblower’s attorney, who raised concerns about the bureau allegedly moving to retaliate against his client for making a protected disclosure to Congress related to the case, prompting a response from Bongino.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Nov. 2025
Oregon lawmakers added gender identity as a protected class under state anti-discrimination law in 2021.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Deutsch explained that architects have found lowering a ceiling makes a person feel more protected and comfortable.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
After walking away from the semi-protected working environment of Anderson’s film, Hoffman followed the advice of some peers and enrolled in an acting school in New York to hone his craft.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Today, approximately 70% of the property’s total acreage is now permanently protected.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
High vaccination rates create a shield for those who can’t be fully protected during a measles outbreak.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Please make sure your home is properly winterized and protected from extreme cold.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Your snowboard and gear will also stay protected with 10 millimeters of dense, thick EPE foam throughout the entire bag.
—Nathan Allen, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2026
We are protected by the Constitution.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
This layered approach keeps your pattern protected and your look polished.
—Essence, 29 Jan. 2026
Made of thick steel and protected on all sides by sandbags, the capsule is strong enough to shield engineers from debris, but not from a direct hit.
—Svitlana Vlasova, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
They’ll be protected from the pressure Denver’s All-Pro defensive lineman Zach Allen and sack leader Nik Bonitto, a Pro Bowler, can impose on their offensive line.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protected
Adjective
-
The preservation was so exceptional that the researchers could identify countershading patterns, indicating this armored dinosaur relied on camouflage despite its heavily defended appearance.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Nov. 2025
-
Private firefighting outfits defended companies, utilities, and ultrarich enclaves while other parts of the city burned.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Covered entities must clearly explain how protected health information is used and safeguarded.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Jan. 2026
-
In that collection, over 100 scientists from four continents explain how frogs, trees, ducks and lions stand to benefit when refugia in their habitats are identified and safeguarded.—
Diana Stralberg,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
There was some cowering in seats, some shielded eyes and a general atmosphere of dread.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
-
While many details of the settlement remain shielded for the time being, the value of finality is worth emphasizing.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Rather than social paranoia per se, people simply become exceedingly guarded and opt to turn off all external contact.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Part Two of the plan was going to a zone defense, and then finally, Lucas put muscular freshman Shelton Henderson on Okorie and face-guarded him and tried to take him out of the game.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On another visit, Kurdish armed guards accompanied us to what is known as the Annex — a heavily secured area of al-Hol camp holding women and children who are neither Syrian nor Iraqi.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
22 Jan. 2026
-
In 2023, Saudi 100 Brands alumni streetwear label 1886 and luxury brand Abadia secured backing from Turmeric Capital, marking the first international private equity investment in Saudi fashion.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump's top diplomat said America was safer and more secure as a result and that the administration would work with interim authorities to stabilize the South American country.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Additionally, the drawcord waistband supplies a comfortable and secure fit.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protected. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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