1
as in ammunition
means or method of defending
thorns are a rose's defense against grazing animals
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defense
Despite being one of the top defenses all season, the last month has been discouraging.
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Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Houston’s sensational defense has put the franchise in prime position to be dangerous in the postseason.
—Patrick Sung, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Denmark has sought to appease Trump by promising additional defense spending, but Washington seems unmoved, and has piled pressure on Copenhagen by canceling major wind-power projects developed by Danish state-run firm Ørsted.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
South Korean defense stocks have been on a roll this year, with major defense players such as Hanhwa Aerospace and Hyundai Rotem gaining over 170% and 270%, respectively year to date.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defense
Noun
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The container had 18 rifles, five handguns, firearms magazines, over 36,000 rounds of ammunition and a silencer that had been shipped from Miami.—
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Taiwan should deepen its reserves of ammunition, energy, and food to withstand a prolonged blockade—measured in months, not weeks.—
Noun
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On what makes this team A team that shows up every day with the correct mentality, works really hard, doesn’t make excuses, owns up to mistakes and continues to get better.—
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Not ever using an excuse, but the ball moves differently in the wind.—
Noun
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Rasouli doesn’t recommend relying on cheese for protection against dementia.—
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On the whole, higher limits offer better protection, so recognizing the differences in coverage between minimum requirements and real-life needs can inform better decision-making in this regard.—
Noun
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According to federal guidance, all states drawing down child care funds must now certify their fraud prevention measures and provide a strong justification of how funds will be used, including a breakdown by spending category.—
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If the labor market is improving and the Supreme Court delivers the expected tariff refunds, the Fed would have almost no justification for adding further stimulus to the economy via a new round of cheaper money.—
Noun
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This chemical bond directs the material to organize into highly stable, low-dimensional layers that serve as a structural shield on the conventional three-dimensional perovskite.—
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Orion also traveled with a massive club and shield to fend off large predators like lions, bears, or wild boar.—
Noun
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During pregnancy, common reasons for seeking care include early labor, bleeding, changes in fetal movement, or high blood pressure.—
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One reason the design concept endures is the sink's functionality within the kitchen's larger scheme.—
Noun
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Now, more than ever, history may be the industry’s most valuable asset—less a relic than a safeguard for the future.—
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But the lawsuits argue these safeguards failed.—
Noun
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When Israel launched the surprise war against Iran last summer, the depth of its infiltration became evident when it was revealed that Israeli intelligence agents smuggled weapons into the country and used them to strike high-value targets from within Iranian territory.—
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The administration also lists members of the pro-Trump mob who died during the riot or in connection with it, but does not mention that nearly 140 police officers were injured that same day by weapons.—
Cite this Entry
“Defense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defense. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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