defended 1 of 2

past tense of defend

defended

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of defended
Verb
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
Adjective
Harbaugh has defended second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr through the first six weeks. Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025 Federal authorities have defended the maneuvers as being a response to attacks on agents and property. Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Both police departments involved have defended their hiring practices and stopped short of accepting responsibility for the vetting failures that allowed the two men to serve as officers. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025 One of the only stars from the program who agreed to speak was Ernie Myers, who, like Mark Jackson and Kenny Smith, publicly defended Lorch after Holmes’ initial allegations. Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025 But Gehman defended her team’s work. JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025 The late actress also linked to the interview in the post, in which Allen defended himself against Dylan and Mia’s accusations. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025 Aziz Ansari, however, defended his decision to perform at the comedy festival this year on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025 In a recent statement to PBS, Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, defended the flotilla activists’ treatment at Ketziot. Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Verb
  • The town sports a former silent movie theatre from the 1920s, a farmers’ market in Flagler Park, and lifeguard protected Stuart Beach offers dining, volleyball and basketball courts and free rolling beach wheelchairs for visitors with mobility needs.
    Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
  • All of this left many of them dreaming of being a stay-at-home wife supported and protected by a rich and masculine man.
    Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But if Ross decides to dump McDaniel, it would be justified after Sunday’s lifeless effort littered with penalties (11 for 103), foolish mistakes and the appearance of a team that was unprepared and disinterested.
    Barry Jackson Updated October 19, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Extreme caution would have been justified.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora Gomez earned an Emmy nomination for her role as Mabel, a guarded and sarcastic millennial who strikes up an unexpected friendship with Charles and Oliver.
    Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Our spirits remain guarded, but high, for this one; the Venice Film Festival crowd seemed to eat it up.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 3 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • Once sensitive information is shared, it must be carefully safeguarded.
    Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
  • This ensures our culture is safeguarded despite the climate crisis, and is accessible to all Tuvaluans at home and abroad.
    Feleti Penitala Teo, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The chipmaker ticked up nearly 2% after Bank of America raised its price target to $300 per share from $250 and maintained its buy rating on shares.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The 49ers maintained their position atop the NFC West on Sunday night with a prime-time 20-10 win at Levi’s Stadium over the visiting Atlanta Falcons.
    Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The win capped a weekend sweep for the reigning champion, as Verstappen secured pole position in both the sprint race and the grand prix, before winning both events while heading every lap across both days.
    Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Defaults remain relatively low in senior secured portfolios, and experienced lenders often work through challenges with their borrowers, not against them.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Unlike psychiatric or weight-loss drugs, finasteride's cosmetic classification may have shielded it from rigorous post-marketing scrutiny.
    Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Cohen, like other prosecutors who commit intentional misconduct are shielded – entirely.
    Micah Kimball, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • She was sentenced to die by firing squad and Indonesia’s highest court upheld it in 2013.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement The long-running free speech consensus upheld by left-leaning civil libertarians and conservative First Amendment hawks alike has been complicated by questions created by a once inconceivably powerful social media machine.
    John Wihbey, Time, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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