SHIELD Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

shield 1 of 2

noun

ˈshēld

Definition of shield next

as in defense

means or method of defending the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shield

2 of 2

verb

as in to protect

to drive danger or attack away from celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cover

to place a protective layer over she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

To the south of the extensive snow shield, a strip of damaging ice will build up on trees and power lines, potentially knocking out electricity to millions of people from central Kansas to West Virginia Sunday into Monday. —

Andrew Freedman, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025 In the Manhattan fire, Gaffney used a removed door as a shield to move through a raging fire to find a pregnant woman and a child, who were both unconscious. —

Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025

Verb

The law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden last spring forcing TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets was reportedly meant to shield American social media users from the influence of the Chinese government and protect their personal data. —

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025 But a range of construction choices and preparation measures were key in shielding the property from the blaze that decimated thousands of neighboring structures. —

Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for shield

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shield

Noun

Castle has started 23 games and has helped shore up the team’s perimeter defense while also averaging 11.6 points.

— Mike Monroe, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Newsweek reached out to the White House and a defense lawyer who represented Dempsey via email on Tuesday for comment.

— Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025