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shield

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verb

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

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 shield
Noun
Other carvings show human-like figures, feline imagery and a flower or shield image, according to the study. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025 His view is that the Golden Dome system cannot work as a nuclear missile shield. Leonard David, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Despite a $50 million bounty for Maduro’s arrest, no defections have occurred within his inner circle, which analysts say is shielded by corruption and fear of prosecution. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025 And Myanmar has become an attractive destination for the cybercrime networks, who are shielded by corruption and the military junta. Helen Regan, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shield
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shield
Noun
  • Their talks are expected to cover tariffs, regional security and Japan’s defense spending, all points of tension in recent months.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Prabhat Ranjan Mishra Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the below example, against Real Oviedo’s zonal scheme protecting the six-yard box, three players run away from goal and one to the near-post to attack Marcus Rashford’s outswinger, resulting in Araujo scoring.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In some cases, sportsbooks have taken down odds on certain events to protect against manipulation.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hours before Wednesday's game against the Halifax Macs, the Nova Scotia U-18 Major Hockey League announced on X that Marchand and Andrew Bodnarchuk will cover for the grieving father as guest coaches.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The new banner will cover film and TV, and span scripted and docs.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Its criminal activities include drug trafficking, arms trafficking, protection racketeering, loansharking, and turf wars against other criminal organizations in the area.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The fire activated the building’s fire protection sprinklers on the 12th, 13th and 14th floors, and the water caused a power outage, according to the fire department.
    Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Taibleson defended her conservative credentials during her confirmation hearing, and both Democratic and Republican senators derided the opposition campaign.
    Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Fast forward to Monday, and – after a 3-2 defeat to Brentford – Liverpool has now lost four straight games in the Premier League, just the fourth time in history that a defending champion has gone on such a poor run of form, per Opta.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Companies that host or enable these tools must now consider stronger safeguards and faster takedown systems.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The extension can display the pop-ups since users must agree to give it permission to read and change data, although the software has been designed with safeguards to prevent user surveillance or excessive data collection.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Rulers, by contrast, tend to jealously guard their dignity.
    Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Kings guard DeMar DeRozan, a future Hall of Famer who ranks 25th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, agreed with Schroder’s assessment.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Possession of ammunition without an FID card.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
  • North Korea has sent soldiers, artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia to support Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
    Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Shield.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shield. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on shield

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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