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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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
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Mullin defended the agency's broader mission, noting that ICE also investigates serious criminal activity.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 13 June 2026
Pochettino defended his midfield selections when the roster was announced on May 26.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Pratt defended a conspiracy theorist who had made the claim.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
In a video released Thursday night, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt, head football coach Joey McGuire and other university officials defended the school’s right to play Sorsby.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 June 2026
The center also defended its decision to appeal the legal challenge brought on by Beatty, who argued that the center had violated its authority in renaming the institution.
—Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
College officials defended their about-face in an update posted to the Columbia admissions website.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Charity officials have defended those expenses as necessary to generate vehicle donations that fund their programs.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 6 June 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
In an interview with WFAA following the verdict, Roach defended his decision to bar cameras and livestreaming from the courtroom.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Mullin defended the agency's broader mission, noting that ICE also investigates serious criminal activity.
—Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 13 June 2026
Pochettino defended his midfield selections when the roster was announced on May 26.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Pratt defended a conspiracy theorist who had made the claim.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
In a video released Thursday night, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt, head football coach Joey McGuire and other university officials defended the school’s right to play Sorsby.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 June 2026
The center also defended its decision to appeal the legal challenge brought on by Beatty, who argued that the center had violated its authority in renaming the institution.
—Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
College officials defended their about-face in an update posted to the Columbia admissions website.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Charity officials have defended those expenses as necessary to generate vehicle donations that fund their programs.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Adjective
-
The southern coast of Tenerife is a hotspot environment for the conservation of cetaceans in the wild, particularly within the protected Teno-Rasca Special Conservation Zone.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The gate was guarded by two Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
For much of the night, McBride also guarded Paige Bueckers, the former Hopkins High School standout, who led Dallas (7-4) with 23 points but had just two assists.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
This massive financial scaling is justified by intense business momentum.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
-
Routine matters might be handled internally or deferred, while more significant issues justified the cost of external counsel.—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Security at the Kansas City Fan Festival, being held on the grounds of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, is to include metal detectors, a secured perimeter, entrance with clear bags, and access to the festival using a mobile app.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
-
As if to emphasize that point, Bass secured support from some of Raman’s political allies.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted and fraternity is made possible.—
Pope Leo XIV,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Witt has maintained a close relationship with Sooners head coach Skip Johnson.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
-
Baldoni denied the allegations and maintained that Lively's claims were false.—
Janelle Ash , Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 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 penalty was upheld by the video assistant referee system, but the broadcast noted that Embelo might have been offside before fielding the cross.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
-
In a terse decision, the state Court of Appeals upheld the law’s constitutionality.—
Robert Polner,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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