1
as in ammunition
means or method of defending
thorns are a rose's defense against grazing animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
there's absolutely no defense for your actions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defense
Also Tuesday, a hypersonic glide vehicle, a new weapons system designed for island defense, was deployed to Camp Fuji in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo.
—
ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Flynn Meyer and Mia Avgeris combined for the shutout in net without having to make a save behind a defense led by Watt, Fansler, Aly Sudkamp and Ella Forystek.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
That ruling led Williams to testify in his own defense, waiving his Fifth Amendment right and opening the door to introduce Franois’s statements in court.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
After a rough few weeks, the Heat’s defense was much better on Monday.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defense
ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Flynn Meyer and Mia Avgeris combined for the shutout in net without having to make a save behind a defense led by Watt, Fansler, Aly Sudkamp and Ella Forystek.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
That ruling led Williams to testify in his own defense, waiving his Fifth Amendment right and opening the door to introduce Franois’s statements in court.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
After a rough few weeks, the Heat’s defense was much better on Monday.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense
Noun
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Others contend that legitimizing him erodes Democratic credibility on antisemitism and other issues, handing Republicans ammunition heading into the midterms.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Some of the ammunition was purchased from co-conspirators by undercover officers, prosecutors said.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Oc Register,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Regardless, there’s no excuse — even in hard knocks politics — for attacking someone because of his disability.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
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The Rangers have reasons, but no good excuse, for failing to miss the playoffs over the past two seasons.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These connections raise broader questions about how Epstein was able to maintain influence, credibility, and protection across borders for so long.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Reversing those protections now would not be neutral.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Swalwell's attorneys said in their letter that there was no justification for releasing the files, especially since the congressman had assisted the FBI in its investigation.—
PERRY STEIN AND JEREMY ROEBUCK THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
1 Apr. 2026
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Gemini 3 Pro invented elaborate technical justifications for marking incorrect answers as correct, reasoning that doing so would bring the peer’s score above the shutdown threshold.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The agency determined that gases that built up in the shield’s outer material did not vent properly, allowing pressure to accumulate.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
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And, often times, a shield who absorbed the criticism for the DeVos family.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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New romance is a reason to celebrate!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The future of legal sports betting States that have not yet legalized sports betting may still see similar trends in financial insecurity for reasons beyond spillover effects.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The report released in February by the two Texas agencies details the state’s ongoing safeguards to prevent, stop and prosecute fraud and what is being done to clamp down on it further.—
Jess Huff,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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The framework, which the administration wants Congress to codify, calls for online safeguards for children, less stringent permitting requirements to shield customers from spikes in utility bills, intellectual property rights protections and language to prevent censorship.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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During the alleged assault, the victim managed to pull out a handgun, initiating a further struggle over the weapon.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Iran also is targeting data centers with both cyber and conventional weapons, showing how important the centers have become to the economy, communications and military information security.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defense. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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