as in guarding
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Dissimilar Words
as in defending
to drive danger or attack away from
the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
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Recent Examples of protecting
Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Surveying the space they’re tasked with protecting, the two men grouse about the incessant noise of FedEx workers packing up storefronts on rolling large cardboard boxes toward the exits.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Public funds are meant to serve the common good — repairing roads, supporting veterans, improving schools, strengthening public safety and protecting programs that millions of working families rely on.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Navratilova, like Hogshead, is a vocal advocate for protecting women's sports despite supporting Democrats on other issues.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Bongos are native to Kenya’s Mount Kenya, Aberdare, Eburu and Mau forests, which play a key role in protecting the forests that are vital to the country’s water supply.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
These microscopic organisms hunt grubs, stopping their development and protecting your plants from root damage.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
What truly mattered was protecting Britain’s trade with the European continent against French interference.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
First, fiscal responsibility means protecting taxpayer dollars by funding core priorities Idahoans rely on, such as Infrastructure, public safety and education, while identifying waste, improving efficiency, and reducing the tax burden whenever possible.
—Mark Dee
may 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 May 2026
Verb
Once the clearance dropped back toward the edge of the area, however, his focus immediately shifted from defending the cross to protecting the goal.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Surveying the space they’re tasked with protecting, the two men grouse about the incessant noise of FedEx workers packing up storefronts on rolling large cardboard boxes toward the exits.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Public funds are meant to serve the common good — repairing roads, supporting veterans, improving schools, strengthening public safety and protecting programs that millions of working families rely on.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Navratilova, like Hogshead, is a vocal advocate for protecting women's sports despite supporting Democrats on other issues.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Bongos are native to Kenya’s Mount Kenya, Aberdare, Eburu and Mau forests, which play a key role in protecting the forests that are vital to the country’s water supply.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
These microscopic organisms hunt grubs, stopping their development and protecting your plants from root damage.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
What truly mattered was protecting Britain’s trade with the European continent against French interference.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
First, fiscal responsibility means protecting taxpayer dollars by funding core priorities Idahoans rely on, such as Infrastructure, public safety and education, while identifying waste, improving efficiency, and reducing the tax burden whenever possible.
—Mark Dee
may 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protecting
Verb
-
Just as significantly, Anunoby spent much of Tuesday night defending Jalen Johnson, the resurgent Hawks’ only All-Star, who finished with a modest 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Then Quentin Davie, the new coach of defending champion Hebron Christian and a close friend, called with an opportunity to join his staff.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, thanks to the efforts of courageous youth advocates, there is hope in safeguarding youth health.—
Jad Abdel Nour,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
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For now, the Prado is not exhibiting the work so much as safeguarding it, turning a private divorce into a public custody battle over one of the few Velázquez paintings still outside institutional hands.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even those were somewhat unlocked by Minnesota’s injuries; Johnson no longer had Edwards guarding him by Games 5 and 6, enabling Denver to attack a mismatch.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
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Bartholomew was shot and killed inside Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital Saturday morning while guarding someone in custody.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In another, Hurst snapped a picture of a man sleeping rough on a slab of cardboard, one arm shielding his eyes from the sun, and the other pulling up his shirt suggestively.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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The evolving dynamic was on full display outside the Supreme Court on April 27, when a group of activists protested a case about shielding pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protecting. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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