as in guardians
someone that protects
one of the traditional roles of an older brother is that of schoolyard defender
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Recent Examples of defenders
But Houston’s defenders aspire to carve out a place alongside some of the truly elite teams that have largely carried their teams to Super Bowl glory.
—
Mike Jones, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Baylor transfer Brendan Bett stepped in to produce (40 tackles, three sacks), while the emergence of true freshman Jeremiah McCloud (13 tackles) and Joseph Mbatchou (11) offer the Gators interior defenders to build around.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Where the North Florida team couldn’t stop him from bulling for two 1-yard touchdowns and several other other successful sneaks, Bills defenders stopped quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s fourth-and-2 rush at their 8.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Lord spun and scrambled around defenders to get across the goal line and tie the score at 28 after the Redbirds (12-5) had trailed from the first quarter on.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
On the field, believing the midfield to be set, general manager Will Kuntz added two top-tier defenders in Jakob Glesnes and Justin Haak, committing more than $2 million in salary to the pair.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Shorthanded and also down a player who’d had his stick slashed in half, the Tre Kronor nonetheless produced a charge through the offensive zone by Jack Berglund, who split a pair of defenders between the circles and got off a shot.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
Backup offensive lineman Thayer Munford whiffed blocking the Patriots' first run, but otherwise mowed defenders down as a fullback and moving tight end.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Wilson transferred to Missouri from Georgia prior to the 2025 season and quickly became one of the most impactful defenders on the roster.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026
Mike Jones, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Baylor transfer Brendan Bett stepped in to produce (40 tackles, three sacks), while the emergence of true freshman Jeremiah McCloud (13 tackles) and Joseph Mbatchou (11) offer the Gators interior defenders to build around.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Where the North Florida team couldn’t stop him from bulling for two 1-yard touchdowns and several other other successful sneaks, Bills defenders stopped quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s fourth-and-2 rush at their 8.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Lord spun and scrambled around defenders to get across the goal line and tie the score at 28 after the Redbirds (12-5) had trailed from the first quarter on.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
On the field, believing the midfield to be set, general manager Will Kuntz added two top-tier defenders in Jakob Glesnes and Justin Haak, committing more than $2 million in salary to the pair.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Shorthanded and also down a player who’d had his stick slashed in half, the Tre Kronor nonetheless produced a charge through the offensive zone by Jack Berglund, who split a pair of defenders between the circles and got off a shot.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
Backup offensive lineman Thayer Munford whiffed blocking the Patriots' first run, but otherwise mowed defenders down as a fullback and moving tight end.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Wilson transferred to Missouri from Georgia prior to the 2025 season and quickly became one of the most impactful defenders on the roster.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenders
Noun
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With guardians present, detectives discussed the earlier assault and took the three juveniles into custody.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
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But the editors and unpaid reviewers who act as guardians of the scientific literature are newly besieged.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The James family plans to travel to K’gari in the coming weeks to attend a smoking ceremony as guests of the island’s traditional custodians.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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Building trust in a market dominated by large custodians was another challenge.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There's an opportunity to turn a quick profit Gold and silver, traditionally, have been considered income protectors versus income producers.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Since floors like vinyl are prone to scratching, Stein always recommends adding furniture protectors to the bottom of your furniture.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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If our protections only work when animals stay still, then the most wide-ranging species will always be left exposed.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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An attempt to serve the warrant led to a tense, hours-long standoff with the president’s bodyguards at the presidential residence, where Yoon had confined himself.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
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Baraka had told his bodyguards to step aside when the agents came to make the arrest.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
President Bernardo Arévalo issued an emergency declaration after prisoners took 43 guards hostage, killing 10 officers.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Twenty-seven women were forced into a small holding cell after spending hours cuffed and chained on a bus where guards refused to give them food, water, or access to a toilet, according to USA Today; they were told to urinate on the floor.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenders. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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