as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack
the cowardly soldiers fled, leaving the palace undefended
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Recent Examples of undefended
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
Zelensky said Kursk was a major strategy in the war effort, with the aim being to divert Russian troops from the main fighting in eastern Ukraine while also taking prisoners, destroying Russia’s military assets and proving Moscow was undefended.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2025
With European powers diverting men and supplies to Europe in 1939-41 to battle Nazi Germany, colonies in the Pacific were mostly undefended.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for undefended
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
Zelensky said Kursk was a major strategy in the war effort, with the aim being to divert Russian troops from the main fighting in eastern Ukraine while also taking prisoners, destroying Russia’s military assets and proving Moscow was undefended.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2025
With European powers diverting men and supplies to Europe in 1939-41 to battle Nazi Germany, colonies in the Pacific were mostly undefended.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for undefended
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undefended
Adjective
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Many experts said the ruling could harm the country's most vulnerable children.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
15 July 2025
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Not all regions are equally vulnerable to hurricanes; storm severity and local infrastructure vary widely.—
Skye Sherman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Her precocity gives the novel its wit, but Shteyngart is also alert to the fact that a child, however bright, is fundamentally helpless. Not to mention desperate for her parents’ affection, which is in short supply for Vera.—
Mark Athitakis,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
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Evans stood next to a small boat, clad in waders and helpless to stop the rising waters.—
Keisha Rowe,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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This results in long, deep wounds in the surrounding flesh that are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, causing severe pain, and potentially death if left untreated.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
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Being able to track this is super helpful because male cats are more susceptible to UTIs, which can be potentially life-threatening.—
Molly Higgins,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Atlanta’s other significant players are in their early to mid-20s, and the team is sitting on a golden first-round pick in 2026 (the better of New Orleans’ or Milwaukee’s, unprotected).—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
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Nadkarni: The Denver Nuggets trading Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson was something of a triple whammy.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undefended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undefended. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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