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
• People at the tent city agreed Sam had the knives for self-defense.
  — Jose A. Del Real, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
• She was not charged in the case after it was ruled to be self-defense.
  — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 17 Feb. 2024
• The law on self-defense isn’t as clear-cut here as in other states.
  — Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
• Parker said Dews fired in self-defense but still broke the law.
  — Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2023
• Here are the best self-defense weapons that are discrete and easy to acquire.
  — John Thompson, Men's Health, 27 July 2023
• 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
• 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
• Le Chet called it a setup and said Bane had acted in self-defense.
  — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024
• The victim stabbed his assailant three times in self-defense, Heims said.
  — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2023
• 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
• There are hopes for group haircuts and foot soaks and self-defense classes.
  — Jennifer Egan, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
• 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
• Some species can even vomit toxins as a means of self-defense.
  — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2023
• Any nation would do the same, as a simple matter of self-defense.
  — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2023
• The push was a spontaneous act of self-defense, Brian said.
  — Eli Saslow Erin Schaff, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023
• In eight states, a person is allowed to use deadly force in self-defense.
  — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2023
• Alvarez’s defense claimed that the shooting had been done in self-defense.
  — Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
• 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
• 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
• 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
• The case hinged on whether Perry killed Foster, who carried an AK-47, in self-defense.
  — Anumita Kaur, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2023
• Cox claimed self-defense in the shooting and died of natural causes in Dec. 2019.
  — Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023
• The four teenagers attempted to claim self-defense because the victim punched first.
  — Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner, 19 Dec. 2023
• 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
• Hayes' defense said that Smith feared for his life and was acting in self-defense by shooting Smith.
  — Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024
• Lori Vallow and her brother were questioned by police at the time and claimed self-defense.
  — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
• The machete can even be a formidable self-defense weapon if push comes to shove.
  — Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
• No longer the police chief, he was acquitted in 1984 of wounding a massage parlor operator in a shooting that Skinner again said was in self-defense.
  — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2025
• Investigators determined the father acted in self-defense, and no charges were filed.
  — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2025

Last Updated: 1 Feb 2025