as in protected
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in guarded
to drive danger or attack away from
a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justified
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
she will pigheadedly defend any claim regardless of all evidence to the contrary
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defended
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
In the first three games of the year, DeJean recorded 22 tackles and a defended pass.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2025
Eric Nehm, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Quagliano has repeatedly denied that and defended the bank’s aircraft business as profitable.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
While many key figures—including Bush and then-Secretary of State Colin Powell—later expressed regret over the absence of WMDs and policy missteps, Cheney famously defended the invasion and the narrative around it in the following years.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Duffy called on Democrats to end the shutdown and defended the decision to cut flights.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
At the time of the incident, DHS defended Bovino's actions saying that a Border Patrol transport van transporting undocumented immigrants was attacked by demonstrators.
—James Hill, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025
At the same time, Kelce defended the play regardless of how it’s officiated.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye also defended his offensive line this week, saying the majority of the 34 times he’s been sacked have been his fault.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Earlier this month, the songwriter defended their age gap in the comments of an Instagram post shared by Cruz’s mom, Victoria.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Ringo recorded a defended pass and recovered the fumble Campbell forced.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
In the first three games of the year, DeJean recorded 22 tackles and a defended pass.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
Just over a minute later, Kuzma tried to toss Antetokounmpo another alley-oop, but the Bulls defended it well and took away the rim.
—Eric Nehm, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Quagliano has repeatedly denied that and defended the bank’s aircraft business as profitable.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
While many key figures—including Bush and then-Secretary of State Colin Powell—later expressed regret over the absence of WMDs and policy missteps, Cheney famously defended the invasion and the narrative around it in the following years.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Duffy called on Democrats to end the shutdown and defended the decision to cut flights.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
At the time of the incident, DHS defended Bovino's actions saying that a Border Patrol transport van transporting undocumented immigrants was attacked by demonstrators.
—James Hill, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025
At the same time, Kelce defended the play regardless of how it’s officiated.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye also defended his offensive line this week, saying the majority of the 34 times he’s been sacked have been his fault.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Earlier this month, the songwriter defended their age gap in the comments of an Instagram post shared by Cruz’s mom, Victoria.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Adjective
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Oregon lawmakers added gender identity as a protected class under state anti-discrimination law in 2021.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Deutsch explained that architects have found lowering a ceiling makes a person feel more protected and comfortable.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The account was not guarded by an extra layer of security known as multi-factor authentication.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The names of the betrayersare a secret carefully guarded by Cacique and the group called Caribe, a loose grouping of about 3,000 Venezuelan military personnel who have deserted the regime’s ranks and from abroad are trying to coordinate to overthrow Maduro.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Some justified their retreats by citing the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions.—
Essence,
Essence,
10 Nov. 2025
-
What begins as an academic thought experiment — can a lie ever be justified?—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The clerks inserted memory sticks from the tabulators with results from their local election into the laptop and a program transmitted them to the county through a dedicated, secured network.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Benson Kipruto, 34, and Hellen Obiri, 35, both from Kenya, secured victory in the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday.—
NPR,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Seed phrases concentrate risk in one secret while seedless paths distribute it across vendors, devices, identities, or extra hardware that must be safeguarded and, in a crisis, actually found.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Trott and Lufkin safeguarded the middle with six and three blocks, respectively, while Payton Patrick rejected four shots.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Over the next decade, Wuornos grew increasingly religious and maintained correspondence with Australian artist Jasmine Hirst, whose letters and interviews appear throughout the documentary.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Magic maintained a 59-51 lead at half, but Boston pulled even early in the third after Minott drew a foul on an aggressive crash, and Pritchard picked Bane’s pocket and canned a three.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Reports about an assault surfaced on social media Wednesday, but exact details on the incident remain shielded as police investigate.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Oct. 2025
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It is expected to deliver clearer imaging of dense, shielded materials like spent nuclear fuel, while also significantly enhancing nuclear safety.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Specialty beauty retailers like Ulta Beauty and Sephora, by comparison, have upheld programs meant to support founders of color, including their respective accelerator programs, which inaugurate annual classes of beauty founders of color and ready them for growth via monetary grants and mentorship.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
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The Justice Department's brief asks the Supreme Court to throw out a ruling by a federal appeals court that upheld Sittenfeld's convictions and send the case back to the federal judge in Cincinnati who oversaw the trial.—
Kevin Grasha,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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