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
Trouba opened the scoring in the first period with an undefended slap shot after an egregious Blackhawks turnover.
—
CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
Mark Collins, who was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, said Canadians have long treasured their friendship with the United States and the fact that the US-Canada border is the longest undefended border on the planet.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Even with changes that came after the 2001 terrorist attacks, Abdool, noting the reputation of the longest undefended border in the world, said the experience of traveling back and forth between the United States and Canada wasn’t like crossing other international borders.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 16 May 2025
Like the global undersea cable network, the United States’ deep-water drilling infrastructure is rapidly expanding while remaining almost entirely undefended.
—Robert Martinage, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2015
See All Example Sentences for undefended
CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
Mark Collins, who was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, said Canadians have long treasured their friendship with the United States and the fact that the US-Canada border is the longest undefended border on the planet.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Even with changes that came after the 2001 terrorist attacks, Abdool, noting the reputation of the longest undefended border in the world, said the experience of traveling back and forth between the United States and Canada wasn’t like crossing other international borders.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 16 May 2025
Like the global undersea cable network, the United States’ deep-water drilling infrastructure is rapidly expanding while remaining almost entirely undefended.
—Robert Martinage, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2015
See All Example Sentences for undefended
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undefended
Adjective
-
Harassment tends to happen while Metro passengers wait for either the bus or train; bus stops are particularly vulnerable.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
In light of federal immigration crackdowns, funding cuts and rollbacks to civil rights protections and oversight, how can California better serve vulnerable student populations, including those who are immigrants, are LGBTQ+ and have disabilities?—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
By contrast, the publication of his translation of Kafka in Italian in the spring of 1983 left him feeling empty, helpless, defenseless.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
All the sweeping expansiveness snaps shut with a sudden health crisis for Kristen, its onset signaled with masterful concision in a middle-of-the-night calamity that leaves her helpless.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fruit trees such as peaches, nectarines, and apricots are particularly susceptible to early frost damage.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
-
The plaintiff, Brian Keim, alleged that Trader Joe's made some customers susceptible to identity theft because some stores printed transaction receipts that included the first six and last four digits of customers' credit or debit card numbers, according to filings.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
So next season very much becomes like 2024-25, when a failure to make the playoffs could mean an unprotected first-round pick going out the following year (which would have been this year’s draft due to a previous obligation to the Thunder).—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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If the 2026 first-rounder didn’t convey, then the Clippers would get Indiana’s unprotected 2031 pick, which is the same year franchise star Kawhi Leonard turns 40 years old.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undefended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undefended. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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