as in to desert
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
soldiers defected from the rebel army en masse as the failure of their cause became apparent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect (from)
Verb
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Immigration agents have targeted car washes, shopping centers, swamp meets and other businesses — pushing immigrant community members underground and leaving many typically lively areas deserted.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025 -
Joseph said the attack has left entire areas deserted as residents flee into the woods or into shelter.—
Jacqueline Charles
July 11,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
Verb
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More than 55 years ago, three astronauts en route to the moon had to abandon their dreams of reaching the lunar surface when their spacecraft encountered some serious trouble.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
28 July 2025
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Elliott likewise pressed Hyundai to abandon its own restructuring effort and increase its dividend, again using financial discipline as a wedge to improve governance and transparency.—
Marc Cooper,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
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In September 2024, Arsenal fielded a late enquiry for Trossard from Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad, but the offer came too late for Arsenal to source a replacement, so it was rejected.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
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Allies and Trump aides also reject the notion that Trump is airing any new skepticism of Israel.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Charron, 39, was found guilty of first-degree murder in April in connection with the death of Sardinha, 25, who was stabbed twice in the chest and nearly had her nose cut off on Sept. 2, 2020, in her apartment in Huntington Beach, KTLA reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
28 July 2025
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The Florence Project, the only nonprofit organization in Arizona that, with federal funds, provided attorneys for minors, was forced to stop assigning lawyers after the government cut off funding in March 2025.—
Nicol Leon,
AZCentral.com,
27 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Defect (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect%20%28from%29. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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