UNDEFENDED Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

undefended

adjective

ˌən-di-ˈfen-dəd

Definition of undefended

as in vulnerable

lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack the cowardly soldiers fled, leaving the palace undefended

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 undefended The lack of range of Coastal Command aircraft left an undefended area known as the Mid-Atlantic Gap, rendering merchant shipping and their escorts without air cover and vulnerable to attack. — Mark Wood, TheWeek, 7 Jan. 2026 Trouba opened the scoring in the first period with an undefended slap shot after an egregious Blackhawks turnover. — CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025 Mark Collins, who was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, said Canadians have long treasured their friendship with the United States and the fact that the US-Canada border is the longest undefended border on the planet. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025 Like the global undersea cable network, the United States’ deep-water drilling infrastructure is rapidly expanding while remaining almost entirely undefended. — Robert Martinage, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2015 See All Example Sentences for undefended

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undefended

Adjective

The song is written as a conversation with that mythic other woman, who Parton confronts here in a way that manages to come across as both extremely vulnerable and drawing on a huge reserve of strength.

— Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
For someone vulnerable to an eating disorder, [pressure] from social media, celebrity images, or the growing visibility of GLP-1 medications can reinforce restriction and the belief that their body is somehow not small enough.

— Marti Noxon, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of vulnerable

Adjective

Muslims who are peace-loving and helpless also need a hand up.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Yes, there were moments of humor, such as getting magic potions around the campfire at the end of each stage by whacking helpless little elves, but most of it was played straight, to great effect.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of helpless

Adjective

Their protection schemes might expect edge rushers, but both Van Ginkel and Turner could drift backward, making the interior more susceptible.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Therapists, being human, are susceptible to biases and errors during demanding sessions, which can occur before, during, or after client interactions.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of susceptible

Browse Nearby Words

undefeated

undefended

undefiled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Undefended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undefended. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of undefended

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cogent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

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

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

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

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes