1
as in guarded
to drive danger or attack away from
a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justified
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
she will pigheadedly defend any claim regardless of all evidence to the contrary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in protected
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of defended
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2025
Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
In the end, Mizzou defended its home territory and defeated Kansas 42-31.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
The singer defended Siwa and recounted her own experiences as a bisexual woman falling in love with a man after previously dismissing the idea.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Plenty of commenters defended her, saying companionship comes in many forms.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The White House has defended the unprecedented move, at least in part, by warning about the very real national security threat posed by our reliance on the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which produces the lion’s share of the planet’s chipmaking.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Industry officials defended carbon capture and storage as having an inherently low risk and say emerging technologies, such as storing carbon dioxide in basalt formations where it becomes mineralized, could dramatically increase total storage volumes.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Those who defended them said basically the same thing, but in a different font.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Porter defended the Park Service response to the fire and blamed its expansion on dynamic and extreme weather conditions.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 11 games for Wisconsin, Lucas recorded 18 tackles, one interception and three defended passes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
This leads to a devastated Scorsese, who is fiercely defended by the actual Charlize Theron.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
In the end, Mizzou defended its home territory and defeated Kansas 42-31.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
The singer defended Siwa and recounted her own experiences as a bisexual woman falling in love with a man after previously dismissing the idea.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Plenty of commenters defended her, saying companionship comes in many forms.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The White House has defended the unprecedented move, at least in part, by warning about the very real national security threat posed by our reliance on the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which produces the lion’s share of the planet’s chipmaking.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Industry officials defended carbon capture and storage as having an inherently low risk and say emerging technologies, such as storing carbon dioxide in basalt formations where it becomes mineralized, could dramatically increase total storage volumes.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Those who defended them said basically the same thing, but in a different font.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Porter defended the Park Service response to the fire and blamed its expansion on dynamic and extreme weather conditions.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defended
Verb
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Proponents of the relocation, however, believe it is protected by their First Amendment religious rights.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
And the biggest improvement of all — Harrell protected the ball, finishing the game 17 of 29 for 140 yards.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Anytime there’s a federal budgetary surplus (which sounds laughable), Congress may conclude that past lawmakers have overtaxed their constituents such that a prompt return of the excess revenue is justified.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Prosecutors said that seemed to be aimed at finding jurors who would be open to an argument that an attack on the presidential candidate was justified.—
Greg Allen,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Our spirits remain guarded, but high, for this one; the Venice Film Festival crowd seemed to eat it up.—
Randy Myers,
The Mercury News,
3 Sep. 2024
-
Especially in your portrayal of Jane, who is very guarded.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
15 June 2024
Verb
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For immigration attorneys and legal service providers, the shift also raises new ethical and practical considerations regarding how client funds are collected, safeguarded and processed.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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Crops are safeguarded, incomes remain steady, and the region’s agricultural and energy gains are protected for the long term.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The defense, McCarthy maintained, would have no response.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Patterson, who maintained her innocence throughout the trial and said the poisonings were accidental, has 28 days to appeal her sentence.—
Alasdair Pal,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Expending taxpayer funds on a capital project without secured or approved funding is both fiscally irresponsible and a violation of sound budgeting practices.—
Penny Weaver,
Arkansas Online,
8 Sep. 2025
-
With more than $100 million in secured backlog, INCORAGE continues to prove that principled execution can drive both reliability and growth.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When paired with comparative outcomes data, such as Lilly’s demonstration of efficacy versus competitors, DTC models can introduce real competition into a sector often shielded from consumer market dynamics.—
Rita Numerof,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Independent agencies such as the FTC, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Federal Communications Commission were designed to be shielded from direct political pressure while enforcing federal regulations.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The decision upheld a previous denial by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission over traffic concerns raised by city officials and in more than 300 public comments.—
Rose Evans
September 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Yesterday, an appeals court upheld that $83 million award.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defended. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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