shields 1 of 2

noun

plural of shield
as in defenses
means or method of defending the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shields

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shield
1
as in protects
to drive danger or attack away from celebrities who are shielded by a cluster of bodyguards whenever they appear in public

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in covers
to place a protective layer over she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

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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 shields
Noun
Protective, almost — which makes sense, as its stunning chandeliers are designed to look like the shields and spears of African Masai warriors. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 To protect them from interference from magnetic or electric fields, scientists have to dedicate large vacuum chambers and shields that can take up big lab spaces. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026 Prop 42 shields the asset forms billionaires hold, like business interests and financial control, while Prop 40 is the measure that funds Medi-Cal, the program that pays for long-term care when middle-class savings run out. — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Ivan was married, with two children, and worked as the curator of a small museum that collected artifacts from the eastern highlands, like masks and shields. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 These troops generally fought with swords and shields, using a method of warfare that involved rapid movement and raids. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 Ornamental shields and coats of arms are decorated with castles, crosses, lions, flags, and crowns. — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 The exemption shields bargained rules related to wages, hours and other working conditions from antitrust scrutiny. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026 According to a Universal website launched to address community concerns over the coaster, the park is already utilizing pea gravel to minimize ride vehicle sound, a more than 900-foot-long sound wall and two half-pipe shields to block sound. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
Homeowners selling a primary residence who meet certain IRS conditions can qualify for a tax break, known as the Section 121 exclusion, that shields up to $250,000 of profits for single filers and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. — Annie Nova,sarah Agostino,kelli Grant, Cfp®, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Banning corporate cross-border stablecoins shields Pretoria’s currency controls at the direct expense of corporate productivity. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Bert shields Stuart from Wil’s deadly fireball, which leads to a magic fight to the death between the two that destroys most of the comic book shop and ends with Wil’s demise. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 The same can be said about Capricorn, since the sea god has tough armor that shields them from individuals who don’t hold their best interests. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 While laminate has a protective coating that shields it from damage, using the wrong cleaning products will etch away at this top layer and dull its shine. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026 The Justice Department wants to invoke the Westfall Act, which shields government employees from being sued for doing their jobs. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act shields these companies from legal responsibility for such content. — Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 15 July 2026 Malware protection shields your devices from harmful sites, and automatic updates keep your defenses current. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 15 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shields
  1. defenses
  2. protects
  3. covers
  4. safeguards
  5. defends
  6. protections
  7. guards
  8. walls
Noun
  • The sixth-year forward is an athletic rebounder and has learned to fill the gaps created by defenses focusing on Wilson in the frontcourt.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • From 2022-24, Lewis was the mastermind of Alabama State’s defenses that once rivaled the Rattlers atop the FCS and SWAC.
    — John Devine, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of defenses
Verb
  • Check the numbers, name the boundary, and choose the workaround that protects both freedom and trust.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Strong enforcement protects consumers and competitive markets.
    — Robin Rossenfeld, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of protects
Verb
  • Based on FactSet’s definition of second-quarter reporting, which covers companies with fiscal quarters ending in May, June, or July, Nvidia and Micron are projected to be the largest contributors to the S&P 500′s overall profit growth.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Netflix series covers the same timespan as A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, though presumably with less doo-wop.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of covers
Noun
  • But some of the safeguards meant to preserve that legacy have driven his children apart, according to trusts and estates attorneys.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Meta said the new safeguards will only apply in the United States, with most in place for 10 years.
    — Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of safeguards
Verb
  • The 16-year-old New Zealand amateur successfully defends her title, closing with a 6-under 64 for her fourth win in 14 professional events.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Romero defends his belt for the first time, while Lopez makes his 147-pound debut, eyeing future undisputed glory.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of defends
Noun
  • The Overton window for acceptable AI use in Hollywood continues to widen as Hollywood actors, television hosts, and influencers embrace cloning with protections and compensation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Projects would also face limits on air pollution and requirements related to clean backup power, green building standards and worker protections.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of protections
Verb
  • Anthropic closely guards its training data sources, but music publishers think the court should require more transparency.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Liberty guards Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier are both looking forward to the opportunity to represent France during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tournament.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of guards
Noun
  • The walls are finished in shiplap, while wooden beams round out the space, giving it a subtly cottage-like appearance.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Families covered hospital walls with posters showing missing relatives, photographs and contact numbers in a desperate appeal for any clue that could bring them home.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of walls

Browse Nearby Words

shielding
shields
shies
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Cite this Entry

“Shields.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shields. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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