1
as in safeguards
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 excuses
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 defenses
That is why the federal government and World Cup host cities are investing hundreds of millions in drone defenses ahead of those games.
—
ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The commitments came as Kyiv warned of escalating Russian bombardments and urgently pressed for more air defenses.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Then the second-year DC brought it back to college defenses.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
Russia launched 324 drones and three missiles at Ukraine overnight in its biggest barrage in nearly two weeks, striking civilian areas and killing residents, though defenses intercepted 309 drones.
—Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Daniels hasn’t shown the ability to consistently dissect defenses and win with accuracy from the pocket.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Jalen Brunson knows any variation of offensive plays featuring both him and All-Star teammate Karl-Anthony Towns can be difficult, nearly impossible for opposing defenses to guard.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
Last month, Iranian drone and missile strikes knocked out roughly 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, while air defenses intercepted waves of missiles targeting civilian infrastructure like Hamad International Airport.
—Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 9 Apr. 2026
In these cases, knowing which funds are legally protected and exploring debt relief options early are your best defenses.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The commitments came as Kyiv warned of escalating Russian bombardments and urgently pressed for more air defenses.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Then the second-year DC brought it back to college defenses.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2026
Russia launched 324 drones and three missiles at Ukraine overnight in its biggest barrage in nearly two weeks, striking civilian areas and killing residents, though defenses intercepted 309 drones.
—Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Daniels hasn’t shown the ability to consistently dissect defenses and win with accuracy from the pocket.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Jalen Brunson knows any variation of offensive plays featuring both him and All-Star teammate Karl-Anthony Towns can be difficult, nearly impossible for opposing defenses to guard.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
Last month, Iranian drone and missile strikes knocked out roughly 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, while air defenses intercepted waves of missiles targeting civilian infrastructure like Hamad International Airport.
—Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 9 Apr. 2026
In these cases, knowing which funds are legally protected and exploring debt relief options early are your best defenses.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenses
Noun
-
In recent months, Anthropic has seen strong momentum for its AI coding offerings as well as growing traction with consumers amid a standoff with the Pentagon over AI safeguards.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Camie Hubbard lives on Craftmont Avenue in Pittsburgh and claims a mitigation contractor hired by their insurance company tore into their home without proper testing or safeguards in place, exposing them to contaminants like lead and asbestos.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Maria allegedly provided various excuses for the delay.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
-
All of a sudden, whenever the topic came up, their once-legitimate concerns about the future of the planet were recast as hand-wavey excuses, Caroline’s career setbacks as golden opportunities for pregnancy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to a requirement for a warrant to access Americans' data, critics also want greater protections on how the FBI or other agencies can search communications and how that is reported to the public.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Two federal lawsuits have been filed in Florida challenging the requirement, arguing that requiring documentary proof of citizenship and marking that status on identification violates constitutional protections under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Grove said the agency’s justifications for consolidating offices in Salt Lake City, Utah, don’t make sense.—
Karl Hille,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The numbers and justifications don’t add up.—
Kristen Monsell,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The officers were stripped of their guns and shields and are being put on desk duty for the duration of the investigation, Tisch said.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
According to the group, reporters were beaten with riot shields, pepper sprayed and robbed of equipment.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ex-president Bolsonaro has been serving his sentence under house arrest for health reasons since last month, when he was rushed from prison to hospital with bronchopneumonia.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of litigating to protect the right to vote, the division has focused on demanding unprecedented access to state voter rolls for reasons that remain opaque.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The negotiators discussed the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said, but did not mention discussion of nuclear weapons.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Back in Illinois, state lawmakers are considering a gun bill that would require pistol manufacturers to redesign models that can easily be turned into automatic weapons.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The light that falls from the left, through half-open windows, onto Vermeer’s walls, some of them bare, testifies not so much to an overcast Dutch day as to a suffusion of grace.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Each consists of no more than two visible walls — showing bare, wooden interiors — with the rest left to our imagination.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenses. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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