as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack
the cowardly soldiers fled, leaving the palace undefended
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 undefended
Our two nations enjoy the world’s longest undefended border, largest trading partnership, and nearly a century of military cooperation, from the beaches of D-Day to the fight against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
—
Ian Cooper, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
Ukraine says that would amount to surrender and leave it undefended if Moscow attacks again.
—USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
For more than a century, the U.S. and Canada built a close, prosperous partnership—standing together in war, mutually fueling their economies through trade, and maintaining the world's longest undefended border.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Trump’s aggressive tariffs may undermine another of his objectives — countering the dangers posed by a (largely) undefended Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, at a time when China and Russia are taking an increasing interest in the Arctic.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undefended
Ian Cooper, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
Ukraine says that would amount to surrender and leave it undefended if Moscow attacks again.
—USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
For more than a century, the U.S. and Canada built a close, prosperous partnership—standing together in war, mutually fueling their economies through trade, and maintaining the world's longest undefended border.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Trump’s aggressive tariffs may undermine another of his objectives — countering the dangers posed by a (largely) undefended Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, at a time when China and Russia are taking an increasing interest in the Arctic.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undefended
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undefended
Adjective
-
Political parties, media brands, and government agencies turn out to be just a collection of individuals vulnerable to pressure and attack.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The very young are particularly vulnerable to the potential harmful effects from lead exposure because of their smaller body sizes and rapid metabolism and growth.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Oct. 2025
-
All were helpless to slow Carolina’s running game.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These missions are susceptible to cuts when politicians look to reduce spending.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Dogs with thick, double-layered coats tend to be more resistant to cold, while dogs with thin coats are more susceptible to cold, according to PetMD.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Without formal recognition, unregistered unions are not able to collect union dues from members or represent them in disputes, leaving workers legally unprotected and employers unaccountable.—
Sourcing Journal,
Sourcing Journal,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The team detected unprotected internet traffic from US military sea vessels, including ship names and identifiers.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undefended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undefended. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share