as in defends
to drive danger or attack away from
the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
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Recent Examples of protects
State officials also cited a government code that protects names of superintendent applicants from public release.
—
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
Ahead of a meeting in Brussels, the European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc's foreign ministers would discuss possibly extending a naval mission that protects ships in the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, without giving any details.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Ahead of a meeting in Brussels, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc’s foreign ministers would discuss possibly extending a naval mission that protects ships in the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, without giving any details.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Last fall, Littleton voters passed a measure that better protects single-family home neighborhoods from multifamily housing projects.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Health officials there recommend giving the vaccine Bexsero, which protects against meningococcal group B bacteria, to babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks of age and a booster at one year old.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026
Because love protects and gives confidence.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Powder coating extends the life of the product and protects your hands from hot surfaces when working with your plants.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
Competitive elections strengthen democracy, and state leaders should reexamine a system that protects party insiders and sidelines would-be challengers long before voters get their say.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
Ahead of a meeting in Brussels, the European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc's foreign ministers would discuss possibly extending a naval mission that protects ships in the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, without giving any details.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Ahead of a meeting in Brussels, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc’s foreign ministers would discuss possibly extending a naval mission that protects ships in the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, without giving any details.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Last fall, Littleton voters passed a measure that better protects single-family home neighborhoods from multifamily housing projects.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Health officials there recommend giving the vaccine Bexsero, which protects against meningococcal group B bacteria, to babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks of age and a booster at one year old.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026
Because love protects and gives confidence.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Powder coating extends the life of the product and protects your hands from hot surfaces when working with your plants.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
Competitive elections strengthen democracy, and state leaders should reexamine a system that protects party insiders and sidelines would-be challengers long before voters get their say.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protects
Verb
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That could put all users — not just parents or children — at risk of data breaches, said Rin Alajaji, associate director of state affairs at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that defends civil liberties online.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
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The blend of green tea, panthenol, and bisabolol defends against oxidative stress, while another exclusive ingredient—ZincSync Tint Technology—helps minimize white cast.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The golden compositions are housed in bright gold frames, and the glass that shields them reflects the world beyond.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
And the service culture, rooted in the Quranic virtue of hospitality, comes with a rare degree of social tolerance for an Islamic country; King Mohammed VI’s support for tourism effectively shields foreigners from harsh religious strictures.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the force that safeguards the Islamic Republic, answers directly to him.—
Suman Naishadham,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
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This 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner safeguards your strands from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit while wrapping them in a barely-there veil of defense.—
Michelle Rostamian,
Allure,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trailing by one with under a minute to go, James burst from the low block, diving like Superman across the court for a loose ball rebound, beating Nuggets guards Christian Braun and Jamal Murray to the ball to force a tie up.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
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Sierra Canyon sophomore guards Jordan Mize and JJ Sati-Grier scored 11 points each, and Sati-Grier had 10 assists.—
Steve Fryer,
Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protects. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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