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
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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
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
Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Waters defended the original strategy, saying that both Judge Clifton Newman and the Supreme Court accepted the logic of the state’s motive theory.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Lewandowski has started just 15 of his side’s La Liga games this season as his side successfully defended the league title, and has scored 18 goals across 44 appearances in all competitions.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Sam Altman defended OpenAI's evolution, accusing Musk of abandoning the charity and seeking control.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Pastor Burns defended the installation via a lengthy public statement after critics compared it to the biblical golden calf, a symbol associated with idolatry.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 15 May 2026
Almost all of them passionately defended keeping the school open.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Jack Schlossberg quickly defended himself after a New York Times piece claimed his NYC campaign is filled with chaos and high staff turnover.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Maksymowski and Fountain Valley’s Alyssa Ton defended their titles in the 200 and 500 freestyles.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Adjective
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
After leaving God’s house, the twins head to the office of the lawyer who defended the Man, as their father comes to be known, at the trial.
—Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Waters defended the original strategy, saying that both Judge Clifton Newman and the Supreme Court accepted the logic of the state’s motive theory.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Lewandowski has started just 15 of his side’s La Liga games this season as his side successfully defended the league title, and has scored 18 goals across 44 appearances in all competitions.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Sam Altman defended OpenAI's evolution, accusing Musk of abandoning the charity and seeking control.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Pastor Burns defended the installation via a lengthy public statement after critics compared it to the biblical golden calf, a symbol associated with idolatry.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 15 May 2026
Almost all of them passionately defended keeping the school open.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Jack Schlossberg quickly defended himself after a New York Times piece claimed his NYC campaign is filled with chaos and high staff turnover.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Maksymowski and Fountain Valley’s Alyssa Ton defended their titles in the 200 and 500 freestyles.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Adjective
-
California consumers are suing Cento Fine Foods, alleging the company falsely labels its products as containing San Marzano tomatoes, a premium Italian variety with protected status requiring specific consortium certification.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
An informed voter is a protected democracy.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
These are institutions which are obviously very tightly guarded and there's not a lot of freedom there for the individuals inside.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
For much of the game, small forward Rae Burrell guarded Clark, who netted 24 points with nine assists.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Project 2025 justified its proposal to eliminate EEO-1 data collection based on concerns that the data could lead employers to adopt racial hiring quotas.—
Michelle Travis,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
The planes were unarmed, but the Cuban government justified the shootings, arguing the organization had dropped leaflets over Havana in previous incidents.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
During negotiations to establish a plan of reorganization, unsecured creditors negotiated with secured lenders and set up a litigation trust, funded with $20 million from the retailer.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
Built in the late 1940s and renovated before Vonn’s tenure, the two-level structure clad in wood shingles washed in white paint is tucked away behind high hedges and secured gates on a quarter of an acre and offers three bedrooms and five bathrooms.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Asylum seekers should be protected, families must remain together, and workers should be safeguarded from exploitation.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
Our elections must be safeguarded from foreign interference.—
Kevin Fixler
May 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
This lasted until 2023, when new management company Storey Hotel Management (who also run Nanuku Resort in Fiji and the Ameswell Hotel in California) took over, and the resort has maintained its elegance and quiet luxury.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Purchased from the original owner’s daughter, the house had been lovingly maintained, preserving distinctive details like latticework, wood paneling, and a free-form pool.—
Kathryn O'Shea-Evans,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The ship itself is packed with detail from turrets through to tiny shielded hangars.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
-
Purchasing a shielded Ethernet cable means the wires are protected from electromagnetic interference, so the cables operate more efficiently.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shirilla’s legal camp filed an appeal in September 2023, but the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals upheld her conviction.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
Sharon Fermyn, who has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 20 years, now lives along the dividing line between congressional districts that cuts through Columbus Park after the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the new congressional maps Tuesday.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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