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shield

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of shield are defend, guard, protect, and safeguard. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

When might defend be a better fit than shield?

Although the words defend and shield have much in common, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When is it sensible to use guard instead of shield?

The words guard and shield can be used in similar contexts, but guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

When would protect be a good substitute for shield?

The words protect and shield are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 could safeguard be used to replace shield?

While the synonyms safeguard and shield are close in meaning, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

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 shield
Noun
Hydrolyzed proteins form a lightweight shield around each strand to guard against heat and future breakage. Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 7 July 2025 Don’t forget to invite options with striking leaves (such as yellow creeping Jenny, Persian shield, and dusty miller) to the garden party. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Verb
Iron Man’s impenetrable armor shielded a weak heart. Ekow Eshun july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025 No white cast, no excessive rubbing—just luminous skin that’s shielded by SPF45 protection. Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for shield
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shield
Noun
  • Hedging existing military capabilities with solutions from defense tech vendors not only complements what defense primes can do with large platforms (ships, planes and tanks) but also brings more competition to defense procurement with companies that can ramp manufacturing quickly.
    Michael Brown, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • When the second half eventually started, there was more offense than defense yet again, as Collier led the way with 36 points to help her squad beat Clark’s, 151-131, to win the All-Star Game.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • Applying a daily sunscreen can help protect your skin from UV rays.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 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
Verb
  • And when the stock goes up, hedge funds have to pay money to cover their shorts or could sell their position.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • Add oil and 1/4 cup of the chicken broth; cover and cook over medium for 6 minutes if using chicken breasts, or 8 minutes if using thighs, stirring once halfway through (chicken will not be fully cooked).
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • Salmon and other fish populations, deprived of hundreds of miles of quiet pools to lay their eggs and for the juvenile fish to survive and thrive, shrank by about 95%, which led the federal government to enact protections for some salmon populations.
    Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2025
  • Yet despite promises from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to better protect the public from PFAS compounds, efforts to weaken current protections are already under way.
    David Michaels, The Atlantic, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • Mark was disappointed, but the poster defended himself, saying he’s helped before and didn’t want to be taken for granted.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 27 July 2025
  • In reality, a number of simple changes can defend against most attacks.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • Show who’s accountable, what safeguards exist, and why automation supports (not replaces) your workforce.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Similarly, Grok 4 may have had less emphasis on eliminating bias in its training or fewer safeguards in place to prevent such outputs.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
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
Noun
  • Kyrylo Budanov, head of DIU, said that Russia's ally North Korea currently supplies up to 40 percent of Moscow's ammunition.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
  • Among the items police took from the apartment were 25 cell phones, two media players, headphones, two computer towers, a journal, a hard drive, some live ammunition... and a wig.
    Dateline NBC, NBC news, 16 July 2025

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on shield

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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