PROTECTED Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

protected 1 of 2

adjective

as in defended

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Dissimilar Words

protected

2 of 2

verb

past tense of protect

as in safeguarded

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 protected

Adjective

Eco effort Because Kanai is a protected area, eco efforts are top of mind. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The result is a more efficient propulsion system that delivers greater range and energy, enabling engagement of highly maneuverable aerial threats at safer distances from protected forces. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026 The main Wekiva River was designated by Congress in 2000 as a protected National Wild and Scenic River. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026 This includes Ukraine, where the Russian language recently lost protected status. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 By the 1980s, only 375 pairs were counted, prompting the state to place the bird in protected status in 1983, citing habitat loss to housing development and agriculture. — Bay City News, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026 For example, Paris has an aesthetic aversion to window units and rooftop HVAC systems, which helps explain why installing air-conditioning typically requires special permission from authorities, especially in protected or historic areas. — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 Most of them encrypted files in non-protected folders, anywhere from a handful to 24,000. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 And yet Sazan is also a protected area. — Marzio G. Mian, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026

Verb

Shadab protected Rauf well by keeping the strike to himself and counterpunching the bowlers by hitting boundaries early in the over. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Many of the messages, however disturbing, are protected speech under the First Amendment. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 An interceptor that can engage targets at greater distances could expand the area protected by existing air defense units. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026 Her disorderly conduct charge does not establish that robots have priority over pedestrians or settle whether her particular protest was legally protected. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Trade unions have criticized the bans, calling them violations of freedom of expression, which is protected by the constitution. — Richard Engel, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026 They are usually still protected by maternal antibodies, experts say. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 Preserve local input while avoiding a patchwork of regulations, ensuring communities are protected and industry provides sufficient justification and incentives. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026 Israeli authorities have done little to stop the attacks, according to residents and rights groups, who say the military has aided, protected or stood by as settlers lay siege to Palestinian villages. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protected

Adjective

The idea is to give aircraft another long-range weapon for attacking high-value or time-sensitive targets while keeping those aircraft farther from heavily defended areas.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
The city is part of Ukraine’s Fortress Belt, a series of heavily defended cities that Russia must overcome to advance farther into the region.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of defended

Adjective

In the school timeline Carrie is an isolated and shielded child struggling with her father's death and essentially thrown to the wolves at school.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Packer once helped design a bunker for a client’s horse, with access between the family shelter and a shielded area built into a hillside.

— Megan Buerger, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of shielded

Adjective

After New Deal policies of the 1930s and 40s secured workers’ legal rights, union membership soared.

— Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
The crash site remained secured Wednesday as investigators worked to piece together the circumstances surrounding the deadly flight.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of secured

Adjective

This is becoming increasingly critical as water scarcity puts growing pressure on communities and infrastructure, including in traditionally water-secure regions.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Conversely, those who are secure in their relationships have the lowest level of problematic social media use.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of secure

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protect

protected

protecting

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“Protected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protected. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of protected

adjective

verb

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