protect

verb

prə-ˈtekt How to pronounce protect (audio)
Definition of protectnext
as in to defend
to drive danger or attack away from the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 These statistics underscore the pressing need for action to protect vulnerable road users and reduce the catastrophic community cost of pedestrian accidents. —Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025 Hussain said her family now lives in a house that’s overlooked by seven neighbors to feel protected. —Latoya Gayle, People.com, 15 July 2025 The formula blends potent ingredients—edelweiss native cells, niacinamide, and ginger root extract—to strengthen hair fibers, protecting against mechanical damage caused by frequent brushing or styling. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 July 2025 Applying a daily sunscreen can help protect your skin from UV rays. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for protect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protect
  1. defend
  2. safeguard
  3. shield
  4. guard
Verb
  • Tesla heads to federal court in Miami on Monday to defend its Autopilot system in a wrongful death case involving the death of a 22-year-old college student.
    — Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 14 July 2025
  • And the company defended its driver-assistance systems.
    — Joel Rose, NPR, 14 July 2025
Definition of defend
Verb
  • Shaping and adapting strategies that will safeguard digital infrastructure and foster a secure technological environment for the future is a critical path.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • The Jennings family chose to safeguard their property with a conservation easement with the Land Trust for Tennessee.
    — Laura L. Davis, The Tennessean, 13 July 2025
Definition of safeguard
Verb
  • Ruda thought these coatings could also shield human eyes from the sun.
    — Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Valerie Biden Owens, Joe Biden's sister, faced no public charges but was pardoned to shield her from politically motivated attacks.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Definition of shield
Verb
  • During a recent interview in Rolling Stone, Murph was guarded but self-reflective.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
  • In the first quarter, Clark was being guarded closely and well out from beyond the 3-point line.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of guard

Browse Nearby Words

protean
protect
protected
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Protect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protect. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on protect

Nglish: Translation of protect for Spanish Speakers

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