shield 1 of 2

Definition of shieldnext

shield

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word shield different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of shield are defend, guard, protect, and safeguard. While all these words mean "to keep secure from danger or against attack," shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

When might defend be a better fit than shield?

Although the words defend and shield have much in common, defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

When is it sensible to use guard instead of shield?

The words guard and shield can be used in similar contexts, but guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

When would protect be a good substitute for shield?

The words protect and shield are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

When could safeguard be used to replace shield?

While the synonyms safeguard and shield are close in meaning, safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

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 shield
Noun
The mirror shields samples from the laser that triggers terahertz emission. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026 On maps, interstates are designated with a blue and red shield, Echelle said. Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
The ETFs use option contracts to shield investors from a set percentage of losses on an underlying index, typically the S & P 500 . Michelle Fox, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026 The pair’s quiet but powerful bond shields them from the disapproval of Gugu’s father and the community around them. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shield
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shield
Noun
  • By Monday, other top athletes who have previously found themselves in political controversy were rallying to Hess' defense.
    STEVEN SLOAN, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
  • And on Sunday before 70,823 at Levi’s Stadium, the unit showed the world there is room for more than one hard-hitting, suffocating defense in Seahawks history.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Ratcliffe’s comments align with the arguments made by Britain’s right-wing populist Reform UK party, which ties its anti-immigrant message to protecting the country.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Medical workers sympathetic to the uprising, meanwhile, have also changed the names and injuries listed on some patients’ medical charts, to protect their identities from authorities.
    Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These grants can cover cleanups and sustainable cultivation projects, or even related efforts such as fish conservation.
    Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Researchers revealed that the project covers the entire development chain – from innovative semiconductors and high-performance power modules to integration into key components such as on-board chargers and traction inverters.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • That pact is partly about protection, said Naomi Hossain, a professor of Development Studies at SOAS University of London.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Both coffee and tea contain bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols and caffeine, which may reduce inflammation and cellular damage while defending against cognitive decline.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • After Maldonado consented to a search, police located seven rounds of ammunition in his back pocket, a black face mask in his jacket pocket and a gun in the vehicle.
    Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Vaughn was previously convicted of on three counts each of armed assault to murder and mayhem, and a single count of unlawful possession of ammunition in 2007.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Within Disney, D’Amaro is known for his consensus-building style, his mastery of Disney’s distinct culture and for safeguarding its beloved brands.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The estate of Wuthering Heights is foreboding and dark, with rocks splintering through the walls, while Linton’s Thrushcross Grange bears a Victorian aesthetic, containing the outside world.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The couple saw major flood damage during the same set of storms, with a wall collapsing and the house later condemned by the city.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Shield.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shield. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on shield

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