as in defended
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as in safeguarded
to drive danger or attack away from
the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of protected
Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
If your income comes primarily from protected sources like Social Security or disability benefits, a court judgment may pose little immediate threat.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Surgeon General's office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are banned for 10 years from wielding legal, regulatory or economic pressure to persuade the platforms to remove protected speech.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
The anti-discrimination law, which adds family or relationship structure as a protected class in the city alongside race, religion, gender and other categories, was finalized Monday and will go into effect in mid-April.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The Senate on Monday, March 9, passed Senate File 579, which expands the state's 2025 law eliminating gender identity as a protected class in the Iowa Civil Rights Act to local governments and imposes new constraints on local civil rights panels' powers.
—Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Sweeney did concede that the uncertainty around two of the four first-round picks (the Toronto pick this year is top-5 protected and the Florida pick next year is top-10 protected) added to the reticence to move any of them.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
The 1993 case did not consider political expression as a protected class.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026
In addition to the anxiety over Monday's ruling, Petit said, Haitians under protected status were living amid an uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in areas with large Haitian communities in South Florida.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Colbert lambasted the dinner hosts, too, suggesting Washington media protected the Bush administration.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The finish leans slightly dewy at first, then settles in comfortably, leaving skin feeling soft, hydrated, and protected without heaviness.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026
Western countries’ framing of the critical minerals issue is based on an assumption that Africa needs to be protected from exploitative Chinese companies, Bronwen Everill argues in an article for UK think tank Chatham House.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Right now, bikers are protected only by a thin white line on the narrow shoulder.
—Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the men and women who defend our nation will be able to choose whether to be protected from the flu.
—Paul Friedrichs, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
These spaces are typically quiet, protected from heavy foot traffic and free from frequent landscaping disruptions.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
This constantly evolving phenomenon of wildfire is really in need of active research so that communities and states and towns are able to be protected.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The extra height makes the space feel more protected and cozy.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
If your income comes primarily from protected sources like Social Security or disability benefits, a court judgment may pose little immediate threat.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Surgeon General's office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are banned for 10 years from wielding legal, regulatory or economic pressure to persuade the platforms to remove protected speech.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
The anti-discrimination law, which adds family or relationship structure as a protected class in the city alongside race, religion, gender and other categories, was finalized Monday and will go into effect in mid-April.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The Senate on Monday, March 9, passed Senate File 579, which expands the state's 2025 law eliminating gender identity as a protected class in the Iowa Civil Rights Act to local governments and imposes new constraints on local civil rights panels' powers.
—Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Sweeney did concede that the uncertainty around two of the four first-round picks (the Toronto pick this year is top-5 protected and the Florida pick next year is top-10 protected) added to the reticence to move any of them.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
The 1993 case did not consider political expression as a protected class.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026
In addition to the anxiety over Monday's ruling, Petit said, Haitians under protected status were living amid an uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in areas with large Haitian communities in South Florida.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
Nataliia, protected by the walls of her hallway bunker, was mostly unscathed.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Colbert lambasted the dinner hosts, too, suggesting Washington media protected the Bush administration.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The finish leans slightly dewy at first, then settles in comfortably, leaving skin feeling soft, hydrated, and protected without heaviness.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026
Western countries’ framing of the critical minerals issue is based on an assumption that Africa needs to be protected from exploitative Chinese companies, Bronwen Everill argues in an article for UK think tank Chatham House.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Right now, bikers are protected only by a thin white line on the narrow shoulder.
—Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the men and women who defend our nation will be able to choose whether to be protected from the flu.
—Paul Friedrichs, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
These spaces are typically quiet, protected from heavy foot traffic and free from frequent landscaping disruptions.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
This constantly evolving phenomenon of wildfire is really in need of active research so that communities and states and towns are able to be protected.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protected
Adjective
-
The extended range allows aircraft to strike without entering heavily defended zones, reducing risk to pilots and platforms.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Private firefighting outfits defended companies, utilities, and ultrarich enclaves while other parts of the city burned.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 that partially addressed those concerns, providing third parties with the technology to diagnose and repair, as long as its intellectual property was safeguarded.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Protect Civilian Infrastructure All sides should cease strikes on civilian targets and critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, desalination plants and safeguarded nuclear sites, in line with international humanitarian law.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Astronomers typically find such volatile ices only in very cold and shielded environments, such as dense molecular clouds, the envelopes surrounding young stellar objects, or the disks where planets form.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
-
As is customary, terms of the settlement were not revealed and will likely remain shielded by non-disclosure and non-disparagement language.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
McDaniels guarded him tighter than SaranWrap for 15 seconds, forcing an off-balance 3-pointer.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Denver center is just 12 for 32 in the series when being guarded by Gobert.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The site design also features restroom facilities, laundry machines, internet access and a secured perimeter with around-the-clock onsite security.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Thousands secured tickets to watch the game on a big screen just outside the building.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Negotiations resumed Wednesday afternoon at a location considered more secure than district headquarters.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protected. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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