Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

protect

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of protect

to drive danger or attack away from
  • the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
Synonyms of protect

bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward
Words Related to protect

avert, prevent

oppose, resist, withstand

battle, contend, fight, war

conserve, preserve, save

buffer, palisade, picket, wall
Phrases Synonymous with protect

stand up for
Near Antonyms of protect

bombard, storm

beset, besiege, overrun

capitulate, cave, submit, yield
Antonyms of protect

assail, assault, attack

Synonym Discussion of protect

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.
    • defend the country
protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.
    • a hard hat to protect your head
shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.
    • shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.
    • White House entrances are well guarded
safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.
    • our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Learn More about protect

  1. See words that rhyme with protect Dictionary: Definition of protect Spanish Central: Translation of protect Nglish: Translation of protect for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of protect for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up protect? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

writhe

Listen to the pronounciation of writhe

to move or proceed with twists and turns

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. surveillance Comey comments on Barr's use of 'spy'

  2. cavalier Virginia wins men's championship

  3. redact, redacted Barr discusses release of report

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games