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
Bearzot didn’t select a replacement for Antognoni, instead playing both Gentile and Bergomi and switching to a system featuring five defenders in front of 40-year-old goalkeeper Dino Zoff, the side’s captain.
—
Michael Cox, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Smolen scrambled and threw a high pass into the end zone, where Thompson was smothered by three defenders.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
Versatile defenders moved around when Triston Casas and Alex Bregman suffered injuries.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Traditional narratives obscure the role slavery might have played in Texas’ drive for independence and portray the Alamo’s defenders as freedom fighters.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
But Nevada could not capitalize on its defense’s strong effort, despite an interception of Maddux Madsen that set them up in BSU territory in the second quarter, because the Boise State defenders were too good.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Loftis tossed what could have been two interceptions, both of which were dropped by Mean Green defenders.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
Taylor – who scored three touchdowns – was regularly easing past defenders, including going untouched into the end zone.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
But the Dolphins could be open to trading one or more of their edge defenders.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Michael Cox, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Smolen scrambled and threw a high pass into the end zone, where Thompson was smothered by three defenders.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
Versatile defenders moved around when Triston Casas and Alex Bregman suffered injuries.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Traditional narratives obscure the role slavery might have played in Texas’ drive for independence and portray the Alamo’s defenders as freedom fighters.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
But Nevada could not capitalize on its defense’s strong effort, despite an interception of Maddux Madsen that set them up in BSU territory in the second quarter, because the Boise State defenders were too good.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Loftis tossed what could have been two interceptions, both of which were dropped by Mean Green defenders.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
Taylor – who scored three touchdowns – was regularly easing past defenders, including going untouched into the end zone.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
But the Dolphins could be open to trading one or more of their edge defenders.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenders
Noun
-
Ciske has also gotten creative in making sure kids can keep coming with their guardians.—
Jordyn Noennig,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Both biological parents and those with parental responsibility over children, including legal guardians and foster parents, would be eligible for the exemption.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But cities tend to be where people go out looking for birds, trying to find them before the rats get them, or before custodians sweep them away.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
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The most visible plans are those devised by the same international custodians who have engineered postwar order elsewhere in the Middle East.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The 22-piece set has sauce pans, frying pans, stock pots, eight lids, and protectors.—
Shalwah Evans,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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Gone is the insurance of daunting rim protectors like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
So when Missouri had minimal protections, we were stuck with Kansas and our inability to update our child's birth certificate there.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
McClure’s is one of at least eight North Carolina cases affected by what federal public defenders say are unconstitutional conditions that violate protections against cruel and unusual punishment.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The murder led to a wave of support for the governor's killer, Mumtaz Qadri, one of Taseer's bodyguards, who was hailed by some as a hero and defender of Islam.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
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His bodyguards came back and told him the convoy would not be able to pass.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In 1990, for example, two robbers dressed as Boston police officers talked their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, restrained the guards and made off with 13 pieces of artwork 81 minutes later.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
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Nicolas Peyrin, deputy secretary general of the prison guards’ union, told CNN affiliate BFMTV that the additional security provided for the former president was not needed.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenders. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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