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

Aden's airport was deserted after the Houthi warning, airport employee Salem Al-Awlaqi told The Associated Press.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Propped up by strong finishing, Tottenham were on 11 points at this stage a year ago, but soon reverted to their relegation-battling baseline once that ruthlessness deserted them.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of desert

Verb

California voters have twice rejected ballot measures to abolish the death penalty, first in 2012 and again in 2016, and Newsom’s decision overrides the will of the courts and state laws that permit capital punishment.

— Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Voters, in 2024, narrowly rejected a half-cent local sales tax measure that was estimated to generate about $19 million annually.

— Victoria Le, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

Police in South Africa have arrested five suspects in connection with a violent farm robbery in the North West province in which a 50-year-old farmer was shot and had his ears cut off.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
The village of Chama in New Mexico was evacuated and cut off by road closures.

— Christopher Weber, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 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 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of defect (from)

verb

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