1
as in ammunition
means or method of defending
thorns are a rose's defense against grazing animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
there's absolutely no defense for your actions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defense
One of today’s co-hosts, France, has been unable to pass its own budget, let alone corral a continent into boosting its defense spending.
—
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adelson’s move was a departure from her son’s defense strategy.
—Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
The publications were funded by some 700 defense grants worth more than $2.5 billion.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
The Shanghai university is under the supervision of a central Chinese agency tasked with developing defense technology, and Beihang University, in the capital city of Beijing, is linked to the People’s Liberation Army and known for its aerospace programs.
—Didi Tang, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defense
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adelson’s move was a departure from her son’s defense strategy.
—Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
The publications were funded by some 700 defense grants worth more than $2.5 billion.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
The Shanghai university is under the supervision of a central Chinese agency tasked with developing defense technology, and Beihang University, in the capital city of Beijing, is linked to the People’s Liberation Army and known for its aerospace programs.
—Didi Tang, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense
Noun
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Advertisement Advertisement Protesters stormed the Parliament in Kathmandu, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and, according to human rights organization Amnesty International, live ammunition.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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The gunmen, who arrived at the junction in a vehicle carrying weapons, ammunition and a knife, shot at dozens of people waiting near buses in the area.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Investors don’t need another earnings call filled with excuses about macro headwinds when the rest of the industry is growing.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
To open flat is without excuse, given the setting.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Apex provides life insurance and supplemental coverage to millions of policyholders across North America, offering affordable protection to working families who need it most.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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The company could work with the government to determine if a waiver could be granted without violating standards such as patient privacy, safety and consumer protection.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The vessel was operating in international waters but that added to the murkiness of the legal justification.—
Emily Goodin,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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This document, so often a justification for violence, also contains words of reconciliation, of fortitude and healing.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This approach reshapes how the model interprets risky content at its foundation, ensuring safeguards remain intact even when efficiency demands that layers be removed.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
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Red lights safeguard boundaries, ensuring no partner feels overridden.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Whatever the reason behind the tradition may be, Swift and Mahomes were all smiles in the Dirty 30 photo as the WAGS prepare to head into football season together and cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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For those reasons and more, Rohl’s signing on a season-long loan, with a €20million obligation provided Everton avoid relegation, is intriguing.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Trump has lost his tariff shield.—
Brett Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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But Facebook and other companies had a legal shield, known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which essentially deterred lawsuits over content posted by their users.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office charged Shawn Harris, 38, with capital murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the killing.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
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Brown pleaded guilty to robbery with a dangerous weapon in February 2015 and was sentenced to a minimum of six years and one month and a maximum of eight years and four months in prison.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defense. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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