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
Interest payments are now the second-largest spending category in the federal budget, surpassing Medicare and defense in fiscal year 2024 and trailing only Social Security.
—
Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
Everyone knows that run defense starts up front, though, on the interior defensive line.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025
Swedish defense giant Saab reported stronger-than-expected second operating income of 1.98 billion Swedish krona ($200 million) this morning.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 18 July 2025
Clarence Darrow, a celebrated defense attorney, represented Scopes.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defense
Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
Everyone knows that run defense starts up front, though, on the interior defensive line.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025
Swedish defense giant Saab reported stronger-than-expected second operating income of 1.98 billion Swedish krona ($200 million) this morning.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 18 July 2025
Clarence Darrow, a celebrated defense attorney, represented Scopes.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense
Noun
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Kyrylo Budanov, head of DIU, said that Russia's ally North Korea currently supplies up to 40 percent of Moscow's ammunition.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
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Among the items police took from the apartment were 25 cell phones, two media players, headphones, two computer towers, a journal, a hard drive, some live ammunition... and a wig.—
Dateline NBC,
NBC news,
16 July 2025
Noun
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The Turkish leader has also used the 2016 coup attempt against him as an excuse to pull apart the rule of law and any vestiges of institutional governance in Turkey.—
Jesse Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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But that's absolutely no excuse, because intent doesn't excuse ignorance.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Salmon and other fish populations, deprived of hundreds of miles of quiet pools to lay their eggs and for the juvenile fish to survive and thrive, shrank by about 95%, which led the federal government to enact protections for some salmon populations.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
21 July 2025
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Yet despite promises from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to better protect the public from PFAS compounds, efforts to weaken current protections are already under way.—
David Michaels,
The Atlantic,
20 July 2025
Noun
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While not all partners who cheat have dark personality traits, those who do often share certain justifications for their behavior.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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There is no other justification for trading a sturdy, dependable backup center for one who played 16 underwhelming games last season.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
17 July 2025
Noun
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Show who’s accountable, what safeguards exist, and why automation supports (not replaces) your workforce.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Similarly, Grok 4 may have had less emphasis on eliminating bias in its training or fewer safeguards in place to prevent such outputs.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
Noun
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One reason for these softer organic sales could be weaker consumer trends within Procter & Gamble’s main markets.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
25 July 2025
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Part of the reason for their refusal, the OP claims, is that this wasn't the first time they had been asked for the same favor — and had a different outcome.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
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It’s got a roller-style mop that stays in place during cleaning, and features a retractable shield that automatically deploys to prevent dragging moisture over rugs.—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
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The mission stays the same: to be a shield, not a sword.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Noun
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This will include placing participants in job training with local trade unions and offering cognitive behavioral therapy to those who were charged with certain firearm crimes in which the weapon was not discharged.—
Skye Seipp,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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And despite his history with the Air Raid offense, the coordinator plans to make use of a four-pronged weapon at tight end for Nebraska that includes Luke Lindenmeyer, Heinrich Haarberg, Carter Nelson and Mac Markway.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defense. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
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