Thesaurus results for DEFENDERS

defenders

noun

plural of defender

as in guardians

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defenders Most of the Giants’ defenders gathered in the infield, hoping for the safe call to be overturned. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026 After a pair of Rapids defenders allowed the ball to drop in the center of the area, Achouri slammed home the loose ball. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 Among players, Marcos Senesi, Hamed Traorè, and Enes Ünal are some of the notable departures, while promising new signings include defenders António Silva, Álvaro Rodríguez, Álex Jiménez, and Juanlu Sánchez. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026 Palace have signed defenders Anan Khalaili, Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu and wingers Dwight McNeil and Zavier Gozo this summer. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Some of the Chiefs’ top rookie defenders made plays early, including screen stops on back-to-back plays. — Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026 Three plays later, on a fourth and one, Bennett went through his progressions and lofted a pass over several defenders to a diving Scott for a 16-yard gain. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 Different UAVs could handle deception, electronic warfare, or attack missions, making defenders deal with several types of threats in the air. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026 Sixteen different Broncos offensive players landed a 64 grade (out of 100) or better by Pro Football Focus’ grading wonks, and 25 different defenders. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenders

Noun

As families prepare for the first day of classes, parents and guardians are gathering school supplies, arranging carpools and figuring out how their children will get to and from school.

— Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Parents are naming guardians for their children in case they are detained or deported, while others have stopped working, shopping or even leaving home, relying instead on neighbors and churches.

— Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of guardians

Noun

Zuckerberg is referencing OpenAI and Anthropic, which operate on the premise that hyper-smart AI is both inevitable and apocalyptic—and therefore safe only in the hands of the wisest custodians (themselves).

— Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026
Two school custodians have been found shot dead in a Chicago elementary school, according to Chicago ABC station WLS.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of custodians

Noun

Minimal Phone will also throw in $100 worth of accessories, including a case, screen protectors, and a 27W fast charger.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026
Layered on top is rhetoric, from the highest levels of government, that casts career scientists as adversaries rather than protectors.

— Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of protectors

Noun

The Dutch police assigned round-the-clock bodyguards to protect Tahmasbi and began shuttling him through a series of safe houses.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
The slayings also caused caution among stars and socialites, who began working more often with bodyguards and security details.

— Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of bodyguards

Noun

Police reinforcements were called late Saturday to the temporary accommodation center for asylum seekers in Sintiki, a few kilometers (miles) from the Bulgarian border, after migrants threw rocks at guards, according to police.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Parents will be dropping off students, children will be navigating new routes, and nearly 250 city crossing guards will be out each day to help families cross safely.

— Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of guards

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“Defenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenders. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of defenders

noun

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