as in to desert
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
soldiers defected from the rebel army en masse as the failure of their cause became apparent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect (from)
Verb
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These folks won’t desert their teams, no matter how many NFL Sundays end in heartache.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026 -
The streets below were strangely empty for a weekday morning, and Madison Square Park, visible through the scaffolding, was deserted save for a few people and their pets braving the day’s frigid winds at the dog park.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Miami Hurricanes are at home, while the entire state of Indiana – save for some in West Lafayette – is content to abandon their homes to enjoy this unexpectedly stupefying playoff march.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Season One concludes with the Texas Tech geology graduate abandoning a well crew after tragedy strikes, only to achieve rapid success in his personal and work endeavors.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bonta rejected the allegations as unsubstantiated and said the states were targeted solely because of their political leadership.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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For at least the third time in just over a year, Humphrey has rejected most serious charges against rule-breaking cops.—
Stephanie Stremplewski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The easiest way to cut into a pomegranate is to cut off the peel near the blossom end.—
Mary Ann Esposito,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
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One congressman suggested that Washington should sooner cut off his own hand than sign a bill that would see his likeness on a coin, a move that would put him in the company of Nero and Caligula.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Defect (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect%20%28from%29. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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