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
Lutnick has said the Administration is even considering taking ownership stakes in big defense contractors, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, presumably as the price of renewing their lucrative federal contracts.
—
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Doug Philippone, co-founder of Snowpoint and former head of global defense at Palantir, will also join Valar's board of directors.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Dallas’ porous defense was exploited by the veteran journeyman, who threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns with a 115.1 passer rating in the 27-17 win.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In August, Washington launched a major deployment in the southern Caribbean, forming a Joint Task Force that included three destroyers equipped for air, anti-submarine, and missile defense missions, plus an amphibious group of about 4,500 troops.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defense
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Doug Philippone, co-founder of Snowpoint and former head of global defense at Palantir, will also join Valar's board of directors.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Dallas’ porous defense was exploited by the veteran journeyman, who threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns with a 115.1 passer rating in the 27-17 win.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In August, Washington launched a major deployment in the southern Caribbean, forming a Joint Task Force that included three destroyers equipped for air, anti-submarine, and missile defense missions, plus an amphibious group of about 4,500 troops.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense
Noun
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Kyiv has persistently targeted various types of sites linked to Moscow's military industry, from fuel depots to refineries funding its war effort to chemical factories grinding out supplies for ammunition.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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The case was upended by revelations that ammunition related to Hutchins shooting was brought into the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office before the trial began.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Yes, potential excuses exist, such as the Tigers’ switch to Daniels, a senior Stanford transfer whose tremendous performance (353 yards passing and two touchdowns, 89 yards rushing and two touchdowns) demands the question of why Freeze didn’t turn the offense over to him weeks ago.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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No excuses, but there were two reasons for wearing it.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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However, many legal analysts believe the justices will not overturn the precedent, and some additional legal protections for same-sex married couples were passed into federal law in 2022.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Starbucks Workers United is fighting for a new contract that delivers improved staffing hours, take-home pay, and on-the-job protections for baristas.—
Amelia Lucas,Kate Rogers,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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To say nothing about the thorny question of its genre—do Eastern European writers need to provide more explanations and justifications when using the technique of autofiction?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Parise questioned the government’s financial justification for its operation in Old Irving Park, which yielded one arrest of an undocumented immigrant but had far-reaching effects on children and other residents.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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For Dimon, bureaucracy is a reflex that creeps into any large institution and shields leaders from reality.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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Rodriguez didn't name nuclear energy specifically, but advocated for businesses to invest in renewable energy as part of the data center boom, and Roys agreed the state should ensure companies invest in upgrades to the state's energy infrastructure and shield ratepayers from higher costs.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Part of the reason why there are so few of these conversations about podcasting is a general lack of criticism for narrative audio.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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What's really behind the baby bust The reasons Americans choose not to have children are hotly debated in academic circles, with many attributing America’s baby bust to shifting priorities and societal norms.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Now, more than ever, history may be the industry’s most valuable asset—less a relic than a safeguard for the future.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
8 Nov. 2025
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But the lawsuits argue these safeguards failed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Consider Tupperware’s FridgeSmart Container Set your secret weapon to extending the life of your produce, organizing your food, and adding money back to your pocket.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
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Trump has partly addressed the shortfall by selling NATO weapons for transfer to Ukraine (more air-defense weapons are still needed, though).—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defense. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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