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
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
Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
In 2024, the national team won both the U-20 and U-17 World Cups, and successfully defended the latter in 2025.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Unlike Ono’s bid — which UF leaders initially defended cautiously through procedural statements and newspaper columns — university leaders now appear to be rolling out a far more coordinated public campaign on Bell’s behalf.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 23 May 2026
In response, the president defended the fund and lashed out at its critics.
—Ana Ceballos
follow, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Megan Strickland, a spokesperson for Mayor Quinton Lucas, defended the ordinance and said that some liquor stores have exploited communities with a disproportionate number of liquor stores.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
But Volpe, staunchly defended by Boone and Brian Cashman throughout his career, has played relatively well over an incredibly small sample since being promoted when Caballero got hurt.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Sam Altman defended OpenAI's evolution, accusing Musk of abandoning the charity and seeking control.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 May 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
On Saturday, Hill defended Carter after former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes explained why publicly targeting a teammate is frowned upon inside an NFL locker room.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
In 2024, the national team won both the U-20 and U-17 World Cups, and successfully defended the latter in 2025.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Unlike Ono’s bid — which UF leaders initially defended cautiously through procedural statements and newspaper columns — university leaders now appear to be rolling out a far more coordinated public campaign on Bell’s behalf.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 23 May 2026
In response, the president defended the fund and lashed out at its critics.
—Ana Ceballos
follow, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Megan Strickland, a spokesperson for Mayor Quinton Lucas, defended the ordinance and said that some liquor stores have exploited communities with a disproportionate number of liquor stores.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
But Volpe, staunchly defended by Boone and Brian Cashman throughout his career, has played relatively well over an incredibly small sample since being promoted when Caballero got hurt.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
Sam Altman defended OpenAI's evolution, accusing Musk of abandoning the charity and seeking control.
—Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 16 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
-
As for the Cliff Booth movie, like all things involving Tarantino, it has been closely guarded.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
-
Officials removed older metal supports to make the monument's interior fully visible, and future plans include installing the tomb's monumental double-leaf Macedonian marble door and restoring parts of the sphinx sculptures that once guarded the entrance.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Tuchel has owned his big calls and justified his choices.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
-
That's where the cost is justified.—
Aruna Veerappan,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin, running in the technically non-partisan race, even secured endorsements from Barack Obama and Kamala Harris.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
Successful participants have since been invited back for subsequent seasons of their shows, secured roles on other NBCU shows, or advanced to higher positions.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 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
-
Frost maintained that CalPERS is one of the most transparent retirement systems in the country and, as required by California law, the fund reports fees and fund performance to the public and the Legislature.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
Management maintained the production forecast for 2026 at 860,000 to 940,000 gold equivalent ounces.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
22 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
-
The measure triggered a storm of publicity and a nationwide debate over the merits of using local ordinances to control gun ownership, but was upheld in 1984 by the Illinois Supreme Court.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Worker representatives countered that the right to strike is intrinsic to freedom of association and has long been upheld by the ILO’s supervisory bodies.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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