Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

shield

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of shield

means or method of defending
  • the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the schoolʼs bullies
Synonyms of shield

aegis (also egis), ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, defense, guard, protection, safeguard, screen, security, wall, ward
Words Related to shield

arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry

fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold
Near Antonyms of shield

aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive

shield

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of shield

1 to drive danger or attack away from
  • celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public
Synonyms of shield

bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, ward
Words Related to shield

avert, prevent

oppose, resist, withstand

battle, contend, fight, war

conserve, preserve, save

buffer, palisade, picket, wall
Phrases Synonymous with shield

stand up for
Near Antonyms of shield

bombard, storm

beset, besiege, overrun

capitulate, cave, submit, yield
Antonyms of shield

assail, assault, attack
2 to place a protective layer over
  • she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
Synonyms of shield

cover, screen
Words Related to shield

cloak, clothe, veil

drape, pall

canopy, cap, crown

disguise, mask, obscure
Near Antonyms of shield

bare, expose, uncover

Synonym Discussion of shield

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.
    • defend the country
protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.
    • a hard hat to protect your head
shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.
    • shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.
    • White House entrances are well guarded
safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.
    • our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Learn More about shield

  1. See words that rhyme with shield Dictionary: Definition of shield Medical Dictionary: Definition of shield Spanish Central: Translation of shield Nglish: Translation of shield for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shield for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shield

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up shield? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

nomothetic

involving abstract or general statements

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  2. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

  3. clemency Cyntoia Brown granted release

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games