DEFENSES Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

defenses

noun

plural of defense

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

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

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 defenses And yet, when fate brings us together with someone in a completely unexpected way, our defenses collapse. — Ed Meza, Variety, 23 July 2026 The incident also suggests that cybersecurity defenses designed to stop human hackers may be outmatched by AI agents capable of searching for vulnerabilities and acting at machine speed. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 23 July 2026 Organizations responsible for protecting national security must be able to verify that their defenses actually work. — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Given the increasing attempts at drone attacks designed to overwhelm air defenses, reaching for the next missile and finding the locker bare is a very unpleasant possibility. — David Szondy july 22, New Atlas, 23 July 2026 Air defenses were activated in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, according to state media. — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026 Also, while the Big 12 has improved defensively, Lagway faced tougher defenses in the SEC. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Healthy One of the best defenses against weeds is a healthy lawn. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 22 July 2026 Had Marsh taken that step — known in legal parlance as striking Basabe’s affirmative defenses — the jury would have only had to determine monetary damages against Basabe on each count, skipping the step of deciding whether to hold Basabe liable. — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenses

Noun

Given that humans at OpenAI had decided to turn off some safeguards for the test, some have argued the outcome should not have been terribly surprising.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Additional safeguards can slow their work and require more computing resources, creating tension between safety and performance.

— Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

Definition of safeguards

Noun

The campaign, a joint effort with SEIU Doctors United, aims to advocate for improved working conditions, stronger patient care and better protections for academic freedom.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
These protections are meant to catch a model that’s acting deceptively, hiding its true capabilities, or otherwise working against what its developers intended.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 25 July 2026

Definition of protections

Noun

Hegseth, who appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee to request an additional $67 billion in funding, was pressed by Democrats to be more transparent about the war's war's progress, goals, strategies and justifications.

— Mary Bruce, ABC News, 22 July 2026
All of these excuses and explanations and justifications are wrong, and missing the point.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of justifications

Noun

The reasons why the world is turning up its nose at oil are complex.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
For a variety of reasons, three intriguing All-Stars — the Colorado Rockies’ Hunter Goodman, Athletics’ Shea Langeliers and Baltimore Orioles switch-hitter Adley Rutschman — are less likely to move.

— Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of reasons

Noun

And, after all that, the majority of residents have to approve the noise walls.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
Tasks include trailblazing and uprooting invasive weeds at the adjacent Richardson Grove State Park; river beach cleanups; painting barns, auditoriums, cabins and kitchen walls; building benches and greenhouses; and planting fruit trees.

— Savita Patel, Mercury News, 26 July 2026