as in protected
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1
as in guarded
to drive danger or attack away from
a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defended
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 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
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
Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
As protests have mounted in major cities in recent months in response to ICE actions, White House officials have defended their immigration record.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Kilkelly vehemently defended her innocence, and the original charges against her were dismissed in November 2024 by Lake County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Fix.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
The White House initially defended the post, but after the flood of bipartisan outrage, pivoted to blaming it on an unnamed staffer.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
The Stockton Kings defended their home court, coming away with a 113-98 victory, climbing to tie for first in the West at 13-6.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
The International Skating Union defended a judge's controversial score that left Madison Chock and Evan Bates just short of Olympic gold earlier this week.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
He has been defended by the guard on numerous occasions.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Appearing, again, with Hannity, Bongino defended his prior contention that some jobs traffic in facts and others in opinions.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
It is designed with advanced stealth features to reduce its radar signature and improve survivability in heavily defended airspace.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 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
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
Government officials have defended officers’ actions as necessary and justified, while giving misleading or false accounts of some clashes.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
As protests have mounted in major cities in recent months in response to ICE actions, White House officials have defended their immigration record.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Kilkelly vehemently defended her innocence, and the original charges against her were dismissed in November 2024 by Lake County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Fix.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
The White House initially defended the post, but after the flood of bipartisan outrage, pivoted to blaming it on an unnamed staffer.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
The Stockton Kings defended their home court, coming away with a 113-98 victory, climbing to tie for first in the West at 13-6.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
The International Skating Union defended a judge's controversial score that left Madison Chock and Evan Bates just short of Olympic gold earlier this week.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
He has been defended by the guard on numerous occasions.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Appearing, again, with Hannity, Bongino defended his prior contention that some jobs traffic in facts and others in opinions.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Adjective
-
In addition to the anxiety over Monday's ruling, Petit said, Haitians under protected status were living amid an uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in areas with large Haitian communities in South Florida.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Isabella Rodriguez, Florida elections director at Citizens Defending Freedom, said religion is also a protected class.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both public parks and private allotments served as compensation for a long process of enclosing public commons to make the urban and rural landscapes of today, in which territories are divided, fenced, and often guarded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
-
He’s guarded some of the best players in the league.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Any increase should be a last resort and carefully justified to protect residents already facing rising costs.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Government officials have defended officers’ actions as necessary and justified, while giving misleading or false accounts of some clashes.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
So, if you're overwhelmed by both secured and unsecured balances, prioritize the unsecured debts that are more flexible when negotiating forgiveness or settlements.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This means everything needs to be taken into consideration, from the use of entities to secured obligations and contractual governance.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nancy Guthrie's home was safeguarded by a Nest doorbell camera, a common security option for many Americans.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
All those billion plus users need to upgrade to ensure their phones and data are safeguarded.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Our bodies naturally produce glutathione and optimal levels can be maintained through diet and lifestyle factors.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The city has maintained strict lighting codes ever since, with streetlights and public lighting designed to protect night-sky visibility.—
Megan Eaves,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The facility is a shielded argon glovebox engineered to handle both irradiated and nonirradiated actinide materials.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
As is customary, terms of the settlement were not revealed and will likely remain shielded by non-disclosure and non-disparagement language.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Its intent was upheld in a series of legal challenges to the Legislature’s redistricting in 2012.—
Michael Van Sickler,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Any plan that begins and ends with Lower Basin cutbacks, those states have said, is likely to trigger a lawsuit aimed at ensuring the compact is upheld.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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