as in guardian
someone that protects
one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defender
Adames also rated out as a below-average defender as well, worth -3 outs above average through two months.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
The star winger held off a defender before bringing a long pass down neatly with her first touch, and then turning to play a pass to Zaneratto in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
In the first half of Baylor's 48-7 win at CPA, the five-star junior running back juked a defender and smoothly hurdled clean over another on his way to the end zone, but the hurdle — which isn't allowed in high school football — drew a penalty which negated the play.
—Jacob Shames, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
Theoretically, the over-arching upgrade is his ability to move much better than Porter — as a driver and secondary ball-handler, as a defender, as a catch-and-shoot threat using off-ball screens to get free.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defender
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
The star winger held off a defender before bringing a long pass down neatly with her first touch, and then turning to play a pass to Zaneratto in on goal.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
In the first half of Baylor's 48-7 win at CPA, the five-star junior running back juked a defender and smoothly hurdled clean over another on his way to the end zone, but the hurdle — which isn't allowed in high school football — drew a penalty which negated the play.
—Jacob Shames, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
Theoretically, the over-arching upgrade is his ability to move much better than Porter — as a driver and secondary ball-handler, as a defender, as a catch-and-shoot threat using off-ball screens to get free.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defender
Noun
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Madeley will play Aunt Medora, Ellen’s former guardian.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Oct. 2025
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Anna Madeley as Aunt Medora, Ellen’s lively, amoral aunt and former guardian.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Comey was, and is, doing what that NASA custodian was doing – serving his country with passion and pride.—
Billy Ray,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
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On May 18, 2022, Baker filed an affidavit requesting an arrest warrant for Skeet and three of his ranch hands, including Leroy Medlin, the county custodian at the time.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Jakob Poeltl is more solid than an elite rim-protector, and the Raptors have precious little of that behind him with the exception of two-way project Ulrich Chomche.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Crash pillows from MotoGP lined the bottom to absorb impacts, while Dias wore a spine protector and Prada’s Linea Rossa gear.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still, the decisiveness with which Nix delivered the ball, trusting both the protection in front of him and what his eyes were seeing with the defense, was encouraging.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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By providing a compact, sustainable, and highly effective solution, the researchers are contributing to environmental protection and securing clean water resources for the future.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Kate's name slip-up comes nearly one week after Page Six was the first to identify her new boyfriend as Steve Neild, who was the Gosselin family's bodyguard she was previously accused of having an affair with in 2009.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Now, after joining Tulsa King in season 2, the larger-than-life performer is broadening his appeal as Bigfoot, a bodyguard and enforcer for Dwight's crew.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defender. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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