as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack
the home team scored when the visitors' goalie momentarily left the goal unprotected
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unprotected
The law often renders women unprotected, maligned, and misunderstood.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
After free agents Edwin Diaz, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso agreed to new contracts in Orlando, Florida, teams gathered to select minor league players who were eligible for the Rule 5 draft after being left unprotected on their organization's roster.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Delaying the vaccine could leave babies unprotected during a critical time and increase the risk of serious illness later in life.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 5 Dec. 2025
Haynes has been left unprotected from the Rule 5 draft for a second straight season.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unprotected
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
After free agents Edwin Diaz, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso agreed to new contracts in Orlando, Florida, teams gathered to select minor league players who were eligible for the Rule 5 draft after being left unprotected on their organization's roster.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Delaying the vaccine could leave babies unprotected during a critical time and increase the risk of serious illness later in life.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 5 Dec. 2025
Haynes has been left unprotected from the Rule 5 draft for a second straight season.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unprotected
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unprotected
Adjective
-
If an entrance hole is too large, smaller nesting birds will be vulnerable to predators and invasive species, including house sparrows, larger birds of prey, squirrels, snakes and even cats, which Hamlin says are birds’ top predators.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Jan. 2026
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People who have weakened immune systems or existing lung and heart disease are most vulnerable to cardiac complications from the flu.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The human brain is highly susceptible to often unproductive mind-wandering, and modern technology has only made the problem worse.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
7 Jan. 2026
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Common Pests and Diseases Like all plants, hoyas can be susceptible to pests and diseases.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
People eventually outgrow the helpless-baby stage.—
Anna Louie Sussman,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
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Without money and without a means to earn it, women are helpless to determine the course of their own lives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unprotected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unprotected. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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