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
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 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
Will Steakin, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Following his Oscars victory, the filmmaker defended using the slur in the press room at the awards ceremony.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Even with the poor stats, Zito defended his goaltender.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Duties include providing advice to managers and programs on a wide range of workers’ compensation issues, helping make sure the department is properly defended.
—Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Argyle guard Blair Mosley (12), foreground, tries to pass to a teammate as she is defended by Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill forward Kaelyn Blanchard (24), right, and Mady Ladd (21) during fourth quarter action.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
Sheriff’s Office says jail deaths are declining Waybourn has defended safety at the jail.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2026
New York defended its vacated cage effectively for the entire time, but scored just once off a brilliant setup by Matthew Schaefer for Heineman’s deflection.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
But only because Chicago mostly defended him that way.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
That allows deep-strike capability from stand-off launch points outside heavily defended zones.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 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
Perhaps no voice within MAGA has defended the president and the Iran strikes more aggressively than Laura Loomer, the far-right activist who, while having her own history of criticizing the administration, has become the movement's most visible counterweight to the growing dissent.
—Will Steakin, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Following his Oscars victory, the filmmaker defended using the slur in the press room at the awards ceremony.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Even with the poor stats, Zito defended his goaltender.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
Duties include providing advice to managers and programs on a wide range of workers’ compensation issues, helping make sure the department is properly defended.
—Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Argyle guard Blair Mosley (12), foreground, tries to pass to a teammate as she is defended by Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill forward Kaelyn Blanchard (24), right, and Mady Ladd (21) during fourth quarter action.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
Sheriff’s Office says jail deaths are declining Waybourn has defended safety at the jail.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2026
New York defended its vacated cage effectively for the entire time, but scored just once off a brilliant setup by Matthew Schaefer for Heineman’s deflection.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
But only because Chicago mostly defended him that way.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Adjective
-
The 1993 case did not consider political expression as a protected class.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Young, guarded by Cody Williams, dribbled toward the 3-point line as teammate Juju Reese set a pick on Williams.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But Jokic was able to catch at the elbows without any resistance early in the game this time as Deandre Ayton guarded him straight up.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The state argues Burton’s execution is justified.—
Abigail Brooks,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Most fatal encounters involving police in Oklahoma are ultimately ruled justified under state law, a pattern that mirrors national trends.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Inside the highly secured courtroom in the Washington County Courthouse, the district attorney made the decision to reduce the number of charges, and Meyers's attorney waived the remaining 67 charges to trial.—
Ross Guidotti,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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One example, Sebban notes, involved an up-and-coming first aid brand that secured placement with a major retailer after more than a year of collaboration on design, samples, and quality refinement.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Magen David Adom’s dispatch unit in Ramla, about 12 miles southeast of Tel Aviv, is more than 100 feet underground, safeguarded by thick walls and a sophisticated respirator system capable of providing clean air in case of conventional and nonconventional attacks.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Surely, most Iranians want the country’s environment to be safeguarded.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Construction began in 1998, and humans have maintained a continuous presence on the orbiting outpost since November 2000.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Rady has also maintained an ongoing collaboration with UC San Diego.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The facility is a shielded argon glovebox engineered to handle both irradiated and nonirradiated actinide materials.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
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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
-
The Tokyo High Court has upheld a decision to dissolve the Unification Church, a controversial religious organisation linked with the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.—
Will Barker,
TheWeek,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Last July that court decided to vacate the theft of federal programs convictions but upheld the wire fraud convictions.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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