PROTECTING Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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

This is more than a sophisticated arms race aimed at repelling threats and protecting borders. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Con, where the company is to demonstrate how its offerings are protecting businesses from agents going rogue, like the situation where an OpenAI model hacked into a company looking for answers on how to solve a problem in the test environment. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 Fertitta says protecting the American ambassador helps the Italian security personnel stay active. — CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 The lightweight formula is packed with vitamin E and niacinamide to plump and smooth your complexion while simultaneously protecting it. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026 In This Article From rabbits to squirrels, protecting our gardens from nibbles and bites is a season-long endeavor. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 26 Aug. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protecting

Verb

The new Indiana quarterback was a three-year starter at TCU and now takes over the defending champs.

— Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Clark, a second-round draft pick by the defending Super Bowl champions, was injured on Seattle’s first defensive snap in a 19-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

— Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of defending

Verb

Organizations must extend hygiene to AI systems by securing training data, confirming model integrity, safeguarding prompts and outputs, preventing model poisoning and adversarial attacks, and controlling how AI accesses company data.

— Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Unlike JPMorgan or Club name Wells Fargo , whose core business is collecting deposits and issuing consumer and commercial loans, BNY’s main focus is servicing, safeguarding and moving financial assets for institutions.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of safeguarding

Verb

For weeks, migrants in the Spanish territory of Ceuta had gathered on a beach away from the city center, sleeping on cardboard sheets, under reed huts and guarding their few possessions in tattered plastic bags.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of guarding

Verb

Sheinbaum has denied shielding Rocha Moya but rejected Washington’s request to arrest and extradite the defendants without credible evidence, insisting that any prosecution take place in Mexico.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Las Vegas — Under a canopy shielding them from the desert sun that pushes temperatures to nearly 110 degrees, Las Vegas tourists rode zip lines down Fremont Street.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of shielding

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“Protecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protecting. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of protecting

adjective

verb

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