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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We were situated in an immense valley peppered with boulders and desert agave plants—the site, Mikkelsen told me, of a winter village of the Kumeyaay people, who have inhabited the region for more than 10,000 years.—
Rosecrans Baldwin,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025 -
The story centers on a man who travels to Pontianak carrying his deceased sister’s remains, hoping to honor her dying wishes while tracking down the father who deserted them.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As well as finding comfort on arrival, Smith is determined that those who move on do not feel abandoned.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The novel can get busy—Taylor introduces each of Wyeth’s studio mates in the first chapter, then all but abandons half of them to squeeze in more significant characters—but there’s a warmth in the overcrowding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The council had already rejected Allied once before, months earlier, over settlements — including back wages — that the company has had to pay out to current and former employees.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Teachers, students, and parents alike rejected the $850 million effort.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The huge import taxes would come on top of the 44% tariff rate already in place on China, effectively cutting off trade between the world’s two largest economies, according to Wolfe Research.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
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During the first internet suspension, one father described to NPR how his daughters were quiet, pale and withdrawn after the internet was cut off.—
NPR,
NPR,
14 Oct. 2025
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“Defect (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect%20%28from%29. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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