as in defended
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as in safeguarded
to drive danger or attack away from
the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of protected
ABC News, 1 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, has cautioned that Malaysia’s under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—Eileen Ng, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Protecting The Night Sky From Light Pollution The RAS argues nighttime should be treated as a protected part of the natural environment, requiring safeguards similar to those applied to daytime environmental conservation.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
An informed voter is a protected democracy.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Officials said the outreach will also include information about changes affecting certain non-citizens, including refugees, asylees and others with protected status.
—City News Service, Daily News, 1 May 2026
The extra height makes the space feel more protected and cozy.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
If your income comes primarily from protected sources like Social Security or disability benefits, a court judgment may pose little immediate threat.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Surgeon General's office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are banned for 10 years from wielding legal, regulatory or economic pressure to persuade the platforms to remove protected speech.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The decision, announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security, marked a rare reprieve for people protected by temporary measures that have been harshly criticized by Republicans.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The tire bead is tough and protected by the wheel rim.
—Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
Bottlenose dolphins are protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA Fisheries.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
In defence, the shot-stopping brilliance of Raya cannot be separated from the stubborn centre-back partnership that has protected him all season long.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 29 May 2026
What changed was the understanding of what needed to be protected, and this is the type of shift leaders must learn to identify and make.
—Kevin O'Neill, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
In its heyday, the massive 20-sided tower was protected by a ditch, curtain wall, and moat.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
By making an extra upfront investment to ensure items are truly protected while they are kept in a storage unit, renters can have greater peace of mind that storage will be the right long-term solution.
—Kody Boye, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
Adjective
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia's blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—ABC News, 1 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, has cautioned that Malaysia’s under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—Eileen Ng, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Protecting The Night Sky From Light Pollution The RAS argues nighttime should be treated as a protected part of the natural environment, requiring safeguards similar to those applied to daytime environmental conservation.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
An informed voter is a protected democracy.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Officials said the outreach will also include information about changes affecting certain non-citizens, including refugees, asylees and others with protected status.
—City News Service, Daily News, 1 May 2026
The extra height makes the space feel more protected and cozy.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
If your income comes primarily from protected sources like Social Security or disability benefits, a court judgment may pose little immediate threat.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Surgeon General's office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are banned for 10 years from wielding legal, regulatory or economic pressure to persuade the platforms to remove protected speech.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Most durable businesses are protected by network effects, switching costs, or regulatory barriers — advantages that can be modeled and sometimes replicated.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The decision, announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security, marked a rare reprieve for people protected by temporary measures that have been harshly criticized by Republicans.
—Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The tire bead is tough and protected by the wheel rim.
—Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
Bottlenose dolphins are protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA Fisheries.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
In defence, the shot-stopping brilliance of Raya cannot be separated from the stubborn centre-back partnership that has protected him all season long.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 29 May 2026
What changed was the understanding of what needed to be protected, and this is the type of shift leaders must learn to identify and make.
—Kevin O'Neill, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
In its heyday, the massive 20-sided tower was protected by a ditch, curtain wall, and moat.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
By making an extra upfront investment to ensure items are truly protected while they are kept in a storage unit, renters can have greater peace of mind that storage will be the right long-term solution.
—Kody Boye, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protected
Adjective
-
Speaking at Fortune’s Workforce Innovation Summit on Tuesday, the 31-year-old defended sweeping workforce cuts at Bolt—including a recent layoff affecting roughly 30% of employees—as well as his decision to eliminate the company’s HR team.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
As in traditional sieges, the focus is on the vulnerable flow of supplies rather than a defended position.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The veil has been torn from belief that marine choke points can be safeguarded, with international access kept open, by proximity of conventional forces.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Asylum seekers should be protected, families must remain together, and workers should be safeguarded from exploitation.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The team believes that the technology could become highly valuable in reactor research, post-irradiation examinations, and nuclear forensics investigations that involve shielded and hazardous materials.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
The ship itself is packed with detail from turrets through to tiny shielded hangars.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
If answers feel guarded, believe that.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Over several days in the country, the trip — Stefano Ricci’s ninth — spanned the Tarangire region guarded by the Maasai, and the Serengeti national park with its rich wildlife, including leopards and families of lions and lionesses and their cubs appearing in campaign imagery.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
As if to emphasize that point, Bass secured support from some of Raman’s political allies.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Nelson also oversaw the disbursement of millions in grants to local counties to strengthen election integrity and secured funding for a military ballot-security initiative that will roll out for the upcoming General Election.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Instead of using an open tote, keep your valuables close at hand with a secure bag that stays close to your body and zips shut.—
Nneya Richards,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2026
-
In 2024, the company completed construction of a massive $28 million secure depository on East State Street in downtown Eagle for storing gold and silver to rival the likes of Fort Knox.—
Kevin Fixler
June 4,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protected. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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