Definition of defect (from)next
as in to desert
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another soldiers defected from the rebel army en masse as the failure of their cause became apparent

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect (from)
Verb
  • Ghulam Ali whipped his head around to see if anyone else was there, but the fields were deserted at this time of day.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • And a $208 million Rural Health Transformation award now lets Arkansas confront the maternity care deserts the national conversation overlooks—because when the nearest delivery unit is an hour away, distance itself is a risk factor.
    John Boozman, Time, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • According to the American Medical Association, 78% of physicians report that prior authorization delays have led patients to abandon recommended treatment.
    Venkata Ramya Ganti, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Later that day, deputies found her van abandoned in a field near Interstate 95, but Graham had seemingly vanished without a trace.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Critics see it as another attempt to breathe life into claims that courts, investigators and election officials have repeatedly rejected — and another corrosive attempt to undermine faith in the state’s vote.
    Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • Questioning, if not rejecting, established Christian doctrine, Ahab also comes to regard Moby Dick as the outward and visible sign, the physical embodiment of the indifference or, worse, utter malignity inherent in the universe.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil facilities and military assets in recent weeks, seeking to cut off Moscow’s energy revenues and try to raise the political pressure on the Kremlin.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Another method is to cut off oxygen to the fire by using a snuffing lid, then let the fire burn out naturally.
    Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Defect (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect%20%28from%29. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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