PROTECT Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

protect

verb

prə-ˈtekt

Definition of protect next

as in to defend

to drive danger or attack away from the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Examples 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 Farmers had moved to protect 8,000 metric tonnes of tobacco in the area, Agriculture Minister Ydael Pérez Brito said, as well as ripening fruits and vegetables. —

Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 Enjoy ad-free browsing and enhanced security with AdGuard’s Family Plan, protecting up to nine devices for life for only $18.97 through November 10. —

Stackcommerce Team (sponsored), PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024 Hot topics at council forums this fall included protecting the town against climate change and creating affordable housing despite the limited availability of undeveloped land. —

Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024 Real user feedback helps identify potential issues early, ensuring a smoother experience at launch and protecting your brand’s reputation by delivering a product that truly resonates with its audience. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for protect

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protect

Verb

Sanchez — who campaigned for office in 2022 on a platform of reforming the county’s troubled jail amid scores of in-custody deaths over the last decade — defended the deputies in her memo.

Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
The outcomes of these proceedings are currently uncertain, and the company is defending these cases vigorously.

Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024