protecting 1 of 2

adjective

as in guarding

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protecting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of protect
as in defending
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 protecting
Verb
The other struggle was protecting children who have been left orphaned. — Sarah Moreno july 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 Once your car hits 100,000 miles, the manufacturer's warranty is done protecting you. — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 28 June 2026 Current law protecting overseas voters requires that citizens abroad, including military, be sent their absentee ballots at least 45 days prior to the election. — Jamie Rowen, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 During a recent sit-down with Flow Space, Monaghan shared what this busy new chapter has taught her about midlife friendship, protecting her energy and making wellness feel doable, even when life is anything but slow. — Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 2 July 2026 The partner of another player, Héctor Bello, died while protecting their toddler, Bello said Saturday on social media. — Anabella González, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 On Wednesday, Mayor Mary Sheffield issued an executive order directing all departments and city employees to focus on protecting the public. — Julia Avant, CBS News, 2 July 2026 Horror Remains a Safe Haven for Marginalized Storytellers For all the industry’s talk of protecting marginalized voices, two of the year’s most distinctive horror movies arrived with remarkably little fanfare. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 The North Dakota library, located near the national park gateway town of Medora, devotes a number of exhibits to Roosevelt’s commitment to protecting America’s vanishing wildlands and wild animals. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protecting
  1. defending
  2. safeguarding
  3. guarding
  4. shielding
Verb
  • When Argentina picked Kansas City for its base camp, the defending World Cup champions chose to train at Sporting KC’s Compass Minerals National Performance Center and reside at the Origin Hotel.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
  • Key Background Republicans will be defending slim majorities in both chambers of Congress come November.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of defending
Verb
  • While challenges like integration complexity exist, CC is a cornerstone for safe AI innovation, offering resilience against sophisticated threats and safeguarding privacy in the evolving digital landscape.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Why is safeguarding the value of free speech so important to our democracy?
    — Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Definition of safeguarding
Verb
  • Publicly, both players have been complimentary of one another, although Brooks didn’t hide his frustration on Monday when asked about guarding the two-time MVP.
    — Eric Koreen, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • For the past few weeks, the Valkyries’ first-ever All-Star has been anchoring Golden State’s defense in critical moments, guarding opposing bigs and sacrificing offensive opportunities for the sake of scheme.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Definition of guarding
Verb
  • On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Bayer’s Monsanto, the maker of the powerful weedkiller Roundup, shielding it from thousands of state lawsuits that allege the company failed to warn people the product could cause cancer.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • Tying the hands of mayors in perpetuity and shielding them from accountability for the scourge of guns is not how to respond to one mayor’s mistakes.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Definition of shielding

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Cite this Entry

“Protecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protecting. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on protecting

Nglish: Translation of protecting for Spanish Speakers

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