Synonyms of shield

shield 1 of 2

noun

ˈshēld 

as in defense

means or method of defending

the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defense
• protection
• ammunition
• safeguard
• wall
• weapon
• armor
• screen
• security
• guard
• ward
• buckler
• cover
• aegis
• armament
• weaponry
• arm
• fortress
• munitions
• stronghold
• fort
• palisade
• fastness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attack
• assault
• offense
• aggression
• offensive

shield

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to protect

to drive danger or attack away from

celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protect
• defend
• safeguard
• guard
• fend
• fence
• keep
• secure
• ward
• bulwark
• prevent
• cover
• screen
• save
• forfend
• stand up for
• preserve
• withstand
• resist
• avert
• oppose
• war
• conserve
• fight
• contend
• wall
• picket
• buffer
• battle
• palisade

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attack
• assault
• assail
• cave
• beset
• submit
• yield
• overrun
• bombard
• storm
• besiege
• capitulate

2

as in to cover

to place a protective layer over

she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cover
• screen
• mask
• veil
• cloak
• crown
• clothe
• cap
• drape
• pall
• disguise
• obscure
• canopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expose
• uncover
• bare

Synonym Chooser

How is the word shield different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of shield are defend, guard, protect, and safeguard. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

When might defend be a better fit than shield?

Although the words defend and shield have much in common, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When is it sensible to use guard instead of shield?

The words guard and shield can be used in similar contexts, but guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

When would protect be a good substitute for shield?

The words protect and shield are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When could safeguard be used to replace shield?

While the synonyms safeguard and shield are close in meaning, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shield

Noun

Bright daylight doesn’t affect the viewing experience, as the glasses feature a dedicated blackout shield built into the frame. —Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Jan. 2026

Campbell goes into the books as the first to see it when Vrabel deployed a tackling shield that morning at LSU. —Steve Buckley, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026

Verb

Roundup weed killer Bayer, which owns the maker of Roundup weed killer, is urging the justices to shield the company from tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming the product causes cancer. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026

Where to Stay Oom Bubble Boutique Find your own bubble under the stars, cocooned in nature—but shielded from mosquitos—30 minutes inland at the Oom luxury glamping enclave for adults. —Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026