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
Preston Fore, Fortune, 19 May 2026
As in traditional sieges, the focus is on the vulnerable flow of supplies rather than a defended position.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Some defended efforts by staff to correct the books, while others demanded answers on how the accounting error had gone unnoticed through three full audit cycles.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The extended range allows aircraft to strike without entering heavily defended zones, reducing risk to pilots and platforms.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Private firefighting outfits defended companies, utilities, and ultrarich enclaves while other parts of the city burned.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
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
In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2025
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026
Lawmakers publicly defended the observatory.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
In her opening statement, Bondi acknowledged issues with the rollout of the Epstein files, but defended the administration’s handling of the release.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The drugmakers have defended their products.
—Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026
However, Johnny Cash defended him from his on-screen brother's criticism.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
On Saturday, Hill defended Carter after former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes explained why publicly targeting a teammate is frowned upon inside an NFL locker room.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
In 2024, the national team won both the U-20 and U-17 World Cups, and successfully defended the latter in 2025.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Unlike Ono’s bid — which UF leaders initially defended cautiously through procedural statements and newspaper columns — university leaders now appear to be rolling out a far more coordinated public campaign on Bell’s behalf.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026
Adjective
Speaking at Fortune’s Workforce Innovation Summit on Tuesday, the 31-year-old defended sweeping workforce cuts at Bolt—including a recent layoff affecting roughly 30% of employees—as well as his decision to eliminate the company’s HR team.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 19 May 2026
As in traditional sieges, the focus is on the vulnerable flow of supplies rather than a defended position.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Some defended efforts by staff to correct the books, while others demanded answers on how the accounting error had gone unnoticed through three full audit cycles.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The extended range allows aircraft to strike without entering heavily defended zones, reducing risk to pilots and platforms.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Private firefighting outfits defended companies, utilities, and ultrarich enclaves while other parts of the city burned.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
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
In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
But Valli defended his decision to stay on the road.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026
Lawmakers publicly defended the observatory.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
In her opening statement, Bondi acknowledged issues with the rollout of the Epstein files, but defended the administration’s handling of the release.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The drugmakers have defended their products.
—Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026
However, Johnny Cash defended him from his on-screen brother's criticism.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
On Saturday, Hill defended Carter after former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes explained why publicly targeting a teammate is frowned upon inside an NFL locker room.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
In 2024, the national team won both the U-20 and U-17 World Cups, and successfully defended the latter in 2025.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Unlike Ono’s bid — which UF leaders initially defended cautiously through procedural statements and newspaper columns — university leaders now appear to be rolling out a far more coordinated public campaign on Bell’s behalf.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Adjective
-
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia's blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
-
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, has cautioned that Malaysia’s under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.—
Eileen Ng,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
If answers feel guarded, believe that.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Over several days in the country, the trip — Stefano Ricci’s ninth — spanned the Tarangire region guarded by the Maasai, and the Serengeti national park with its rich wildlife, including leopards and families of lions and lionesses and their cubs appearing in campaign imagery.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
According to the Worldpay report, consumer openness drops sharply as purchase values rise, especially once transactions exceed even $1,000, and that skepticism is understandably justified.—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Too many decisions of this magnitude are made emotionally and justified financially afterward.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Blue Origin explosion occurred during a ground test while the rocket remained secured to the launch pad; no injuries were reported.—
Paulina Likos,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
If possible, place the plant(s) in two secured trash bags, one inside the other, and seal them closed.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The veil has been torn from belief that marine choke points can be safeguarded, with international access kept open, by proximity of conventional forces.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Asylum seekers should be protected, families must remain together, and workers should be safeguarded from exploitation.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Another in 2024 accused the company of failing to keep equipment properly maintained and for failing to report a breakdown in a blending kettle, records show.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Yet that is not down to Guimaraes; the Brazilian has maintained his standards and, to a degree, somehow arguably even raised them.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The team believes that the technology could become highly valuable in reactor research, post-irradiation examinations, and nuclear forensics investigations that involve shielded and hazardous materials.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
The ship itself is packed with detail from turrets through to tiny shielded hangars.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The play was reviewed and upheld based on what the replay official said was a lack of evidence to overturn.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
In October, the Herald interviewed a Venezuelan father from Tampa who was sent to back to Venezuela even though a judge had upheld TPS for Venezuelans the same day he was arrested during a routine check-in at an immigration office.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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