DEFENSE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

defense

noun

di-ˈfen(t)s

Definition of defense

as in ammunition

means or method of defending thorns are a rose's defense against grazing animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defense The Broncos’ offensive line consistently won the line of scrimmage, clearing paths for Denver running backs to gash the Falcons’ defense. — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026 No other position on a Denver defense loaded with talent and experience enters the season with more uncertainty about the pecking order than this one. — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Germany is considering reducing foreign aid in favor of defense spending and military support to Ukraine. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defense

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense

Noun

Her mother, meanwhile, is backed up by her second husband (Kwon), a mild-mannered documentary filmmaker whose profession gives his wife yet more ammunition in her smiling disparagement of Sanghee.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
The ammunition matched the casing that Fort Worth police cadets found near the scene of the shooting, according to the affidavit.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of ammunition

Noun

Payton has talked routinely in camp about Coleman being further along than other first-year backs in his ability to grasp pass-protection responsibilities.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
But the fate of Mangione’s state case, set to go to trial next month, now hangs in the balance as his attorneys seek to get second-degree murder and weapons charges dismissed over double jeopardy protections.

— Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of protection

Noun

Twitch had a simple justification for letting its parent company, Amazon, use streamers’ content to train generative AI by default.

— Angela Yang, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026
Additionally, searches using Flock’s system will now require search justification by requiring case codes for all law enforcement searches with an exemption for emergency searches, which will still be reviewed.

— Joel Feder, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of justification

Noun

Hydrogen, which has no neutrons, has roughly double that ratio of any other element, which is why water is often cited as a good space radiation shield.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
Ornamental shields and coats of arms are decorated with castles, crosses, lions, flags, and crowns.

— Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of shield

Noun

Requiring personnel to document a legitimate law-enforcement reason and associated case number before conducting a license-plate search.

— Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
The intense interest in the case is one reason why her lawyers are pushing for a retrial – the town was so crowded that at one stage jury members shared a hotel with the prosecution team and an informant.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of reason

Noun

About one third of its customers had adopted that safeguard, which will now become mandatory by year’s end.

— Soo Youn, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Because no single firm bears the cost to society of energy price shocks, the private sector tends to underinvest in these safeguards, making their formation dependent on government action.

— Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of safeguard

Noun

Shelton cruised from there, mixing his primary weapons in with athletic defense that garnered big reactions from the Montreal crowd and deflated Nakashima even more.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Askew had been arrested five times, including twice for robbery and once for weapons possession.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026