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
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
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
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Canadian national team skeleton coach Joe Cecchini has defended the decision to withdraw the athletes earlier this month.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office defended the state law, did not respond Friday to a request for comment.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Fulton County officials defended their handling of the 2020 election after FBI agents seized hundreds of boxes of voting records as part of a criminal investigation.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Powell has steadfastly defended the central bank's independence, emphasizing the importance of insulating monetary policy from political pressure.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The agency has defended its actions.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
As Carlson was being denounced by various conservatives for sitting down with Fuentes, the President defended him.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
During his time with Cage Warriors, which spanned 2013 through 2021, Pimblett won and defended the CW featherweight title and fought for that promotion’s lightweight crown.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The preservation was so exceptional that the researchers could identify countershading patterns, indicating this armored dinosaur relied on camouflage despite its heavily defended appearance.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
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
The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment, but officials there have broadly defended the department’s actions as not only justified but necessary for ensuring the rule of law and holding alleged criminals to account.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Canadian national team skeleton coach Joe Cecchini has defended the decision to withdraw the athletes earlier this month.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office defended the state law, did not respond Friday to a request for comment.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Fulton County officials defended their handling of the 2020 election after FBI agents seized hundreds of boxes of voting records as part of a criminal investigation.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Powell has steadfastly defended the central bank's independence, emphasizing the importance of insulating monetary policy from political pressure.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The agency has defended its actions.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
As Carlson was being denounced by various conservatives for sitting down with Fuentes, the President defended him.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
During his time with Cage Warriors, which spanned 2013 through 2021, Pimblett won and defended the CW featherweight title and fought for that promotion’s lightweight crown.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Adjective
-
All the villas are secluded, surrounded by trees, well back from the main path and removed from the beach, so the lights don’t disorient the protected sea turtles.—
Kim Foley MacKinnon,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Representatives from the developer said on Monday that the city's ordinance did not list the blacksmith shop as a protected landmark and that demolition is in the best interest of the community.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than social paranoia per se, people simply become exceedingly guarded and opt to turn off all external contact.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Part Two of the plan was going to a zone defense, and then finally, Lucas put muscular freshman Shelton Henderson on Okorie and face-guarded him and tried to take him out of the game.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Schleicher, the Pretti family attorney, said Wednesday the earlier altercation in no way justified the shooting more than a week later.—
Michael Biesecker,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
After all, five years later, there is still a serious debate in this country about whether people who stormed the nation’s capital were justified.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Department of Justice, under pressure from prominent MAGA media influencers to arrest Lemon, then took the case to a grand jury and secured indictments that way.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The Big Beautiful Bill, passed in July, secured funding for both the Lunar Gateway and further Orion and SLS flights beyond Artemis 3.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Covered entities must clearly explain how protected health information is used and safeguarded.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Jan. 2026
-
In that collection, over 100 scientists from four continents explain how frogs, trees, ducks and lions stand to benefit when refugia in their habitats are identified and safeguarded.—
Diana Stralberg,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Multiple runs were conducted under international signal degradation, and all platforms maintained mission performance through alternate navigation and timing solutions.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Just a few high-quality tools, well maintained, can last any gardener a lifetime.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There was some cowering in seats, some shielded eyes and a general atmosphere of dread.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
-
While many details of the settlement remain shielded for the time being, the value of finality is worth emphasizing.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The decision also upheld a lower-court ruling on TPS protections for Haitians.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The ordinance clarifies existing rules and ensures they are upheld by county contractors, grantees and leaseholders.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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