Definition of defect (from)next
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect (from)
Verb
  • The lowland deserts with cacti and catclaw brush are Gambel’s quail habitat.
    Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Another neighbor said the apartment was deserted when police arrived.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That’s not to say that Tehran is going to abandon its proxies – far from it.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • And it's kind of abandoned, not very well maintained at the time.
    Sooji Nam, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Pakistan’s government rejected the allegations over the weekend, saying Khan was examined by doctors from the private hospital and that he could not be taken to Shifa International for security reasons.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Importantly, the jury's decision is advisory, meaning the ultimate decision rests with the judge, who can accept or reject the conclusions.
    Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And just like that, Rocky Myers is cut off from the world again.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But in recent years, Romo has been criticized for his preparation, for cutting off Nantz mid-sentence, for fawning over Josh Allen and other quarterbacks and for seeming pollyannish at times.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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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 26 Aug. 2026.

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