DEFECT FROM Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

defect (from)

verb

di-ˈfekt

Definition of defect (from)

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect (from)

Verb

Life and death are entangled, like a once-prosperous but now deserted community.

— Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
In August, Rome is deserted as locals ditch the sweltering city for the sea, but everyone returns in the fall, refreshed and energized for the season ahead.

— Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of desert

Verb

To reach the quarterfinals in New York, Zheng had to accept her newfound station in tennis — not to abandon her confidence for the sake of humility, but to combine her natural self-belief with acceptance of her reality and a new perspective.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Masson credited the town’s surveillance cameras with capturing the fleeing pair abandoning at least one of the paintings and the city’s police force with a quick response.

— News Desk, Artforum, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of abandon

Verb

Metcalf credits his unusual durability with an unusual ability to reject himself.

— Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In 2024, the court rejected an emergency request from Nicaragua to order Germany to halt military and other aid to Israel in Gaza, but the 16-judge panel declined to throw out the case altogether.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

The Prepared Hero Fire Blanket is designed to help smother small fires by cutting off their oxygen supply and comes in a ready-to-hang pouch for easy access.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Trump’s threat to cut off foreign trade could endanger growth, further hurting his ratings.

— Josh Boak, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut off

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defected (from)

defect (from)

defecting

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“Defect (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect%20%28from%29. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of defect (from)

verb

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