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Definition of protectnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word protect different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of protect are defend, guard, safeguard, and shield. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

When is defend a more appropriate choice than protect?

The words defend and protect can be used in similar contexts, but defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When is it sensible to use guard instead of protect?

In some situations, the words guard and protect are roughly equivalent. However, guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

When can safeguard be used instead of protect?

Although the words safeguard and protect have much in common, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

When would shield be a good substitute for protect?

While in some cases nearly identical to protect, shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of protect Doing so will protect your trim, paint, and even nearby drywall from mold growth and moisture damage. Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026 But early reporting and clear conversations at home remain one of the most effective ways to protect children online. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026 Trump is not going to protect him. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026 In 2023, work began on a feature to show how well a line was protecting its quarterback on a pass. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for protect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protect
Verb
  • Playing without William Nylander, Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev, among others, the Leafs ran all over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for two periods and then hung on to beat them in the third.
    Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The new agreement says that Ukraine’s sovereignty and its ability to defend itself are non-negotiable elements of any peace deal and warned that its self-defense is essential to its own security and wider Euro-Atlantic stability.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As part of this effort, the state highlights the importance of awareness campaigns in cancer prevention to safeguard firefighters’ health and well-being.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Since oxygen is the culprit, the trick to delaying the browning process is to shield the flesh from oxygen exposure.
    Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Long shielded by her husband from the nitty-gritty of a figuratively and often physically dirty industry, Cami must transform herself from dutiful wife to energy executive powerhouse.
    Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Forward Bol Dengdit led UCSD with 15 points, guard Alex Chaikin added 14 points off the bench and guard Aidan Burke had 10 points.
    Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • If someone seems guarded, move patiently and be honest about your motivations.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Protect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protect. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on protect

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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