protects

verb

present tense third-person singular of protect
as in defends
to drive danger or attack away from the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 protects The Constitution protects defendants from being prosecuted for the same crime twice, but Mangione's dueling state and federal cases fall into one of the exceptions for double jeopardy. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 Name the goal, keep the message specific, and choose the tone that protects both respect and clarity without closing the door. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026 This Lands’ End one-piece swimsuit is made with a chlorine-resistant spandex that protects against damage from sunscreen, sweat, and harsh chemicals. — Claire West, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 Toilet seats designed for American Standard models can also have some useful features, such as a slow-close function that protects the bowl from damage. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Many websites use OAuth, an industry-standard security protocol for delegating authorization to access online services in a way that protects users’ credentials such as passwords. — Aashis Luitel, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit argued in part that the plan violates the First Amendment, which courts have historically held protects the right to receive information. — Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 In those cases, changing the ownership structure may actually be what best protects the long-term value of the enterprise the family created. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 This formula softens the hair, adds shine, detangles, strengthens, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protects
  1. defends
  2. shields
  3. safeguards
  4. guards
Verb
  • Sasa takes on a rape case that strikes close to home, while his friend Kalle defends a client in a gang trial that tests his ideals.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Rolly Romero defends his WBA welterweight title against Teofimo Lopez on August 22, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of defends
Verb
  • Homeowners selling a primary residence who meet certain IRS conditions can qualify for a tax break, known as the Section 121 exclusion, that shields up to $250,000 of profits for single filers and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly.
    — Annie Nova,Sarah Agostino,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Banning corporate cross-border stablecoins shields Pretoria’s currency controls at the direct expense of corporate productivity.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of shields
Verb
  • The addition of Skubal further safeguards them at a time when Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are working their way back from injuries and Justin Wrobleski has already surpassed his career high in innings.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The vault safeguards more than 1,000 historic objects set with over 22,000 gemstones, while conference sessions will take place immediately outside it, giving attendees ample opportunity to explore the collection.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of safeguards
Verb
  • Shrine guards flick sticks with ostrich feathers at female pilgrims lingering too long in the shade to try to keep the flow of people moving.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The caterpillar even guards the wasp’s cocoons before eventually dying.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of guards

Browse Nearby Words

protectors
protects
protégé
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Cite this Entry

“Protects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protects. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on protects

Nglish: Translation of protects for Spanish Speakers

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