as in deserting
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 defecting (from)
Verb
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But Putin was not going to launch a new war against Turkey’s rebel allies just to save a petty dictator whose own soldiers were deserting.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those hoping to attend the game described a frantic scene on social media, with some sharing stories of abandoning their rides, including shuttles and rideshares, and walking to the stadium.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
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Build bridges without abandoning your brilliant self.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
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As its offense gained confidence, Scotland turned away two more Moroccan scoring bids, with Hendry sliding to deflect a Sabiri dangerous shot off the crossbar and Gunn rejecting an El Khannouss header off a corner kick.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
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What the Business Roundtable Actually Showed In 2019, the Business Roundtable issued a statement seemingly rejecting shareholder primacy.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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According to the Wall Street Journal, the export control directive that led to Anthropic cutting off access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 was triggered in part by cybersecurity research from Amazon and conversations between CEO Andy Jassy and the White House.—
Terrence O'Brien,
The Verge,
13 June 2026
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It’s told from the perspective of a man who, ten years after cutting off his parents, reflects on their lives and on his upbringing.—
Nina Mesfin,
New Yorker,
7 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Defecting (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defecting%20%28from%29. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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