as in defenses
means or method of defending
the slightly built boy used his sharp wit as a shield against the school's bullies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
The crimson, sapphire, and emerald of the shields are echoed in the ladies' gowns and the jewels on their necks, ears, and wrists.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
What to read next The findings also show that water ice is not evenly distributed but instead concentrates in the densest regions of cosmic dust, which act as protective shields and block harsh ultraviolet radiation from nearby newborn stars and allow those fragile molecules to survive across eons.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The tour ends at the Scar Trees, which are a group of trees that had their bark removed by Aboriginal Peoples for various purposes, including crafting items like canoes or shields.
—Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The officers were stripped of their guns and shields and are being put on desk duty for the duration of the investigation, Tisch said.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
According to the group, reporters were beaten with riot shields, pepper sprayed and robbed of equipment.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Some protesters wearing shields and gas masks on the other side of a fence at the federal complex picked up the canisters and tossed them back at police.
—City News Service, Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Petals are gone or reduced to scalelike shields.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp or lightweight shelter that shields you from the elements can help if severe weather occurs or your plan takes a turn.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Other standouts include bamboo extract, which shields hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and the brand’s B-Pro3 bond technology, a complex derived from chia seeds that can help protect hair from future damage.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 26 Apr. 2026
In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that neither federal law nor the Constitution shields military contractors if their mistakes or negligence result in soldiers being injured in a combat zone.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Attorney-client privilege typically shields most details about the legal work each timekeeper performs, but the Tribune was able to obtain other billing and payment data from the city under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Owen Wilson shields himself under a hat as the actor touches down at the Lorne Los Angeles special screening on April 14.
—Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Worse, when half the world shields consumers from higher energy prices, the remaining half absorbs all the demand adjustment.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Federal law generally shields these payments from garnishment by private creditors like credit card companies or medical debt collectors.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
Another $3 million is going toward retrofitting bus shields for bus operators.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
The crimson, sapphire, and emerald of the shields are echoed in the ladies' gowns and the jewels on their necks, ears, and wrists.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
What to read next The findings also show that water ice is not evenly distributed but instead concentrates in the densest regions of cosmic dust, which act as protective shields and block harsh ultraviolet radiation from nearby newborn stars and allow those fragile molecules to survive across eons.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The tour ends at the Scar Trees, which are a group of trees that had their bark removed by Aboriginal Peoples for various purposes, including crafting items like canoes or shields.
—Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The officers were stripped of their guns and shields and are being put on desk duty for the duration of the investigation, Tisch said.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
According to the group, reporters were beaten with riot shields, pepper sprayed and robbed of equipment.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
Some protesters wearing shields and gas masks on the other side of a fence at the federal complex picked up the canisters and tossed them back at police.
—City News Service, Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Petals are gone or reduced to scalelike shields.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
The curve of the land shields the coastline from a heavier swell from the Atlantic, so the water remains calm and clear for long stretches.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp or lightweight shelter that shields you from the elements can help if severe weather occurs or your plan takes a turn.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Other standouts include bamboo extract, which shields hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and the brand’s B-Pro3 bond technology, a complex derived from chia seeds that can help protect hair from future damage.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 26 Apr. 2026
In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that neither federal law nor the Constitution shields military contractors if their mistakes or negligence result in soldiers being injured in a combat zone.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Attorney-client privilege typically shields most details about the legal work each timekeeper performs, but the Tribune was able to obtain other billing and payment data from the city under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Owen Wilson shields himself under a hat as the actor touches down at the Lorne Los Angeles special screening on April 14.
—Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Worse, when half the world shields consumers from higher energy prices, the remaining half absorbs all the demand adjustment.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Federal law generally shields these payments from garnishment by private creditors like credit card companies or medical debt collectors.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shields
Noun
-
Hezbollah has introduced fiber-optic drones to its arsenal in the latest escalation with Israel, using nearly invisible cables to control the weapons and bypass Israeli electronic defenses that down other drones.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Militaries have spent years building up their defenses against drone warfare, with one of the most effective methods being the use of electronic jamming to sever the radio connection between the operator and the drone.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
City Council Speaker Julie Menin deserves credit for advancing legislation that protects synagogues, churches, mosques and other places of worship by deploying safety perimeters keeping protesters at a distance.—
Elliot Cosgrove,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Pro hairstylist Ryan Richman previously described this Briogeo cream as a lightweight, silicone-free heat-protectant cream that minimizes frizz, smooths hair, enhances shine, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Downs is a rare safety who covers like a cornerback, tackles like a linebacker, and blitzes like an edge rusher.—
Bill Jones,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
In Georgia, extreme drought now covers 71% of the state, the highest since 2012.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Broward School Board has approved new safeguards after facing criticism from state Republican leaders for using a district logo and a district credit card in connection to a Democratic Party fundraiser.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The proposal would specifically define terms like event contracts while also requiring exchanges to implement safeguards against advertising, illicit finance, and fund segregation.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Founded in 1922, PEN America is a writers’ and free-expression advocacy group that defends the rights of authors and opposes censorship.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Economist defends its policy of not using bylines as tradition, citing the fact many of their articles are the product of collaborations between writers and taking the Ochsian view that what is written is more important than who writes it.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During his appearances on Capitol Hill this month, Secretary Kennendy was grilled about the administration's defense of the pesticide industry and weakening of protections against mercury pollution, another issue that Kennedy had worked on as an advocate.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Revisiting maps mid-decade for political advantage runs directly against both the spirit and the plain language of those protections.—
Dan Daley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Washington might consider restoring the Fulbright Program, and work on better coordination between the US State Department, which issues visas, and Homeland Security, which guards entry points.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The water-resistant outer material guards your essentials against splashes, while elastic straps and multiple pockets help keep your bottles upright.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For Chelsea Bennett, a mother of two from Florida, those moments often echo through the walls of her home at night, carried by the unmistakable sound of her 9-year-old daughter, Kennedy, singing her heart out in the shower.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Colossal heads, with luminous faces – intense and inscrutable – line the walls of Jenny Saville's studio in Oxford, England.—
Elizabeth Palmer,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shields.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shields. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
