as in defends
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 protects
Structure protects relationships by establishing expectations before they are needed.
—
Sharon Olson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Reaching out to a reputable debt relief professional while the account is still in collections, rather than in court, gives you more time to find a resolution that protects your income.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 June 2026
The super-lightweight formula not only seals your makeup but also protects and absorbs excess sebum with its superfood detox blend.
—Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Federal law protects certain uses of a celebrity’s image and likeness in cases involving parody, criticism, commentary and news reporting.
—Daryl Lim, Fortune, 30 May 2026
December 22 – January 19 Your effort deserves a structure that protects its value.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026
How sunscreen protects you from the sun Let’s start with how sunscreen works.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 25 May 2026
The law, known as HIPAA, protects health information for 50 years after someone dies.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
That pause is what protects you.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Sharon Olson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Reaching out to a reputable debt relief professional while the account is still in collections, rather than in court, gives you more time to find a resolution that protects your income.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 June 2026
The super-lightweight formula not only seals your makeup but also protects and absorbs excess sebum with its superfood detox blend.
—Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
Federal law protects certain uses of a celebrity’s image and likeness in cases involving parody, criticism, commentary and news reporting.
—Daryl Lim, Fortune, 30 May 2026
December 22 – January 19 Your effort deserves a structure that protects its value.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026
How sunscreen protects you from the sun Let’s start with how sunscreen works.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 25 May 2026
The law, known as HIPAA, protects health information for 50 years after someone dies.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
That pause is what protects you.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protects
Verb
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If Wembanyama defends Hart, this will be a major series for Towns, who will have either Castle, Vassell or Julian Champagnie guarding him.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
The player who defends the goal and can use their hands inside the penalty area, also commonly called the keeper.—
Tushaar Kuthiala,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 June 2026
Verb
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High-shine and hydrating, Supergoop’s Glow Gloss Lip Balm shields the lips under a nonsticky, sheer gloss finish, available in Vanilla Soft Serve, Pink Peppermint, Strawberry Spritz and now Caramel Glaze.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 May 2026
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This movement generates Earth’s magnetic field, which shields our planet from harmful cosmic radiation.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
22 May 2026
Verb
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America’s 26th president also inspired the region’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which safeguards his modest log cabin and a pristine slice of the northern mixed grass prairie and many of the species Roosevelt would have encountered, including bison, prairie dogs and wild horses.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
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By validating data authenticity, DNSSEC safeguards against attacks such as DNS spoofing and guarantees that users connect to the correct IP address.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Of course, that assumes Wembanyama guards Towns.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
Fellow Warriors guards De’Anthony Melton (player option) and Seth Curry could also be on the market, as their team faces an uncertain future of building around Seth’s brother.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protects. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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