Synonyms of shield

shield 1 of 2

noun

ˈshēld 

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

• defense
• protection
• safeguard
• ammunition
• wall
• weapon
• armor
• screen
• guard
• security
• buckler
• aegis
• ward
• cover
• egis
• armament
• weaponry
• arm
• fortress
• munitions
• stronghold
• fort
• palisade
• fastness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attack
• assault
• offense
• aggression
• offence
• offensive

shield

2 of 2

verb

1

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

• protect
• defend
• safeguard
• guard
• fend
• fence
• keep
• secure
• ward
• bulwark
• prevent
• cover
• screen
• save
• forfend
• stand up for
• preserve
• withstand
• resist
• avert
• oppose
• war
• conserve
• fight
• contend
• wall
• picket
• buffer
• battle
• palisade

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attack
• assault
• assail
• cave
• beset
• submit
• yield
• overrun
• bombard
• storm
• besiege
• capitulate

2

as in to cover

to place a protective layer over

she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cover
• screen
• mask
• veil
• cloak
• crown
• clothe
• cap
• drape
• pall
• disguise
• obscure
• canopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expose
• uncover
• bare

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

Examples of shield in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The ingredient forms a thin shield around each hair strand, contributing to a silky-smooth mane that’s easier to comb and less prone to breakage. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2024

Your care team will place a shield over your eye to keep you from rubbing it, as doing so could move the cornea flap. —Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2024

Verb

Qualified immunity is a legal protection that shields government employees from litigation over work actions absent a clear violation of constitutional or statutory rights. —Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2024

But the Supreme Court ruled Trump had broad immunity and sent the case back to Chutkan to decide which of his actions were shielded from charges as official responsibilities and which are vulnerable to charges as private acts. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024