PROTECTING Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

protecting 1 of 2

adjective

as in guarding

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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

Among the vaccines demoted to the latter two categories are those protecting against meningococcal disease, which can result in death within 24 hours of symptoms showing up, and hepatitis B, which can cause chronic liver disease. — Chuka Onuh, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Rather than jumping into a price war this summer, Lowe’s directed its $80 million in tariff refunds toward protecting profit margins and covering rising operational costs. — Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 The city’s authorities will prioritize protecting and improving parks, advertising public cool spaces during hot weather and expanding access to public toilets and water, as well as adding shading to public spaces. — Olivia Rudgard, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 Tong’s office correctly notes that protecting children, preventing youth access, addressing synthetic cannabinoids, and ensuring product safety are legitimate public policy objectives deserving serious attention. — John R. Gordon, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026 Schwartz is the 22nd leader of the CDC, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats. — Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 The sequence came in the 72nd minute, with City protecting their lead. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 For many Christians and Jews, protecting coexistence in the Holy Land is a moral imperative after their own long histories of religious persecution. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 Our teams are working hard to protect the animals while also protecting the integrity of the investigation. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protecting

Verb

Over the past several years, South Korea has emerged as a world-class military power – not quite on the level of the US or China, but certainly capable of defending itself against North Korea.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
To flip control of the Senate, where Republicans currently hold 53 seats, Democrats would have to win four seats while defending a handful of their own.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of defending

Verb

But that could change if lawmakers choose not to pass legislation safeguarding distillery deliveries before the legislative session ends on August 31.

— Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
On Wednesday, Shaw had not yet had an opportunity to review the book-policy complaint, but said both policies ultimately look out for children by safeguarding the rights of parents.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of safeguarding

Verb

World Liberty is celebrating the major milestone, while critics worry this is a new wrinkle on the classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse that will give corporations and foreign actors a new way to stealthily curry favor with the White House.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
The 25-year-old center ended up playing 18 minutes, scoring three points on free throws and grabbing three rebounds but doing a solid job of guarding the towering Cardoso.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of guarding

Verb

France has banned unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from intrusive sales pitches and shielding vulnerable people from fraudulent commercial practices.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
At a news conference, Twin Falls police released dramatic surveillance video that showed terrified employees diving for cover and shielding one another.

— Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of shielding

Browse Nearby Words

protected

protecting

protection

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Protecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protecting. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of protecting

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on protecting

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes