How to Use self-defense in a Sentence
self-defense
noun-
So that, that in a sense, was what ruled out self-defense.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2023
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People at the tent city agreed Sam had the knives for self-defense.
—Jose A. Del Real, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
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She was not charged in the case after it was ruled to be self-defense.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 17 Feb. 2024
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The law on self-defense isn’t as clear-cut here as in other states.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
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Parker said Dews fired in self-defense but still broke the law.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2023
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Here are the best self-defense weapons that are discrete and easy to acquire.
—John Thompson, Men's Health, 27 July 2023
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Seavey told the race’s officials that out of self-defense, he was forced to shoot the moose with a handgun.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024
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At the time, his attorney, Clark Birdsall, told The News that there is a case to be made for self-defense.
—Zaeem Shaikh, Dallas News, 21 July 2023
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Le Chet called it a setup and said Bane had acted in self-defense.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024
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The victim stabbed his assailant three times in self-defense, Heims said.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2023
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And the point here was NATO countries need to step up and provide for their self-defense.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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There are hopes for group haircuts and foot soaks and self-defense classes.
—Jennifer Egan, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
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In the lead-up to the trial, a small group appeared near the courthouse to support Ashley's claims of self-defense.
—Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2024
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Some species can even vomit toxins as a means of self-defense.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2023
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Any nation would do the same, as a simple matter of self-defense.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2023
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The push was a spontaneous act of self-defense, Brian said.
—Eli Saslow Erin Schaff, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023
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In eight states, a person is allowed to use deadly force in self-defense.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2023
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Alvarez’s defense claimed that the shooting had been done in self-defense.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
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Watch out, bears: Floridians will be able to shoot and kill bears in self-defense or to protect their pet.
—Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow, Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2024
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The fight club gains traction and soon the most popular girls in school are beating each other up in the name of self-defense.
—Charna Flam, Variety, 6 June 2023
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The judge said there was no evidence that the victim provoked the attack or that he was killed in self-defense.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2023
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The case hinged on whether Perry killed Foster, who carried an AK-47, in self-defense.
—Anumita Kaur, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2023
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Cox claimed self-defense in the shooting and died of natural causes in Dec. 2019.
—Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023
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The four teenagers attempted to claim self-defense because the victim punched first.
—Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner, 19 Dec. 2023
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Watch out, bears: Floridians can now shoot and kill bears in self-defense or to protect their pet.
—Ana Ceballos and, Miami Herald, 27 June 2024
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Hayes' defense said that Smith feared for his life and was acting in self-defense by shooting Smith.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024
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Lori Vallow and her brother were questioned by police at the time and claimed self-defense.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
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It's designed to serve as both a strategic means of self-defense and as a powerful light for outdoors and in.
—New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2025
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This self-defense alarm lets out a siren of up to 130 decibels in addition to a flashing light in case of danger.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2025
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Reeling, perhaps even fearful, Europe may have finally come to its senses over its self-defense needs in the era of Trump.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-defense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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