DEFENSELESSNESSES Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

defense 1 of 2

noun (1)

di-ˈfen(t)s

Definition of defense

as in ammunition

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excuse

an explanation that frees one from fault or blame there's absolutely no defense for your actions

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defenselessness

2 of 2

noun (2)

as in vulnerability

the quality or state of having little resistance to some outside agent our utter defenselessness against the rising floodwaters quickly became apparent

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Noun

Prior to joining the network, Compagno practiced law in criminal defense and civil litigation and later served as a federal managing attorney and acting director at the Social Security Administration. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026 The more winnable of those two, in my opinion, is the Halloween home game with Ohio State, considering the questions on the Buckeyes’ defense. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Noun

The fragile defenselessness of the proud has proven mesmerizing. — Lo Patrick, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for defense

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense

Noun

In a forest in tinder-dry France, a massive wildfire outside the southwestern city of Bordeaux uncovered a cache of what is believed to be World War II-era ammunition.

— Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
According to police, the gun was a Sar USA SAR9 handgun loaded with seventeen rounds of live ammunition.

— Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of ammunition

Noun

In fact, hot summer days, casual weekends, and low-key outings are the perfect excuse to let the girls breathe.

— Julia Guerra, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
Save as a collection on MyRecipes Fall brings football tailgates, family dinners, and dozens more excuses to gather.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of excuse

Noun

Nobody in their right mind would argue that Alphabet and Nvidia need laws to protect them from competition, but lots of otherwise intelligent people believe that banks, an even more profitable group of companies, do need such protection.

— Omid Malekan, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
Friendship was also the protection built into Difficult People.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of protection

Noun

That isn’t justification to bypass the same requirement the residents already demanded.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
By portraying white people as under attack or unfairly displaced, these narratives transform social change into a story of persecution and provide a powerful justification for political mobilization.

— Art Jipson, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of justification

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

Last week, Flock Safety's CEO announced safeguards in response to misuse concerns around the country.

— Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Independent researchers recently examined Roblox chat moderation and found examples of unsafe messages that made it through the platform's existing safeguards.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of safeguard

Noun

Anderson, who was also in the back seat, took the weapon and started firing, Davis said.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Such weapons are proving increasingly difficult for Kyiv to shoot down, with supplies of US Patriot interceptors – one of the few systems capable of taking down ballistic missiles pretty much exhausted.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026