defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.
defend the country
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
shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.
shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand
guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.
White House entrances are well guarded
safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.
our civil liberties must be safeguarded
Example Sentences
He had no raincoat to protect himself from the rain. She keeps her jewelry protected in a safe. You have to protect your business against fraud. New laws have been passed to protect your privacy. The forest is protected by federal law. The high taxes on imported goods are intended to protect domestic producers. Sunscreen helps to protect against sunburn. The insurance protects you against flooding. The insurance does not protect against damage caused by earthquakes. See More
Recent Examples on the WebEnvironmental groups said Seafood Watch's decision places a spotlight on the fishery and the need to do more to protect whales. Patrick Whittle, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Now, wineries are taking measures to protect the future of their precious vines. Hollie Stephens, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2022 Strategies range from developing drugs that protect people with vision loss against further damage to restoring vision with cell and gene therapies that would replace, regenerate or repair retinal neurons that no longer work. Ron Winslow, WSJ, 4 Sep. 2022 If the settlement is finalized, only a few options will remain to protect the people of north Birmingham, according to experts. Shane Loeffler, ProPublica, 1 Sep. 2022 Mississippi, a ruby red political state, has failed miserably in their efforts to serve and protect their people.Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile, an incident involving Chris (Sean Lew) forces Fiona (Martha Millan) to shield her son by any means necessary, furthering the theme of how far a mother will go to protect her child. Joe Otterson, Variety, 29 Aug. 2022 Christmas was days away, omicron cases of coronavirus were surging and the attorneys who had been fighting to protect people in jail were running out of options. Emily Davies, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 The government did so to protect the broader integrity of its inquiry into whether Trump had violated the Espionage Act and other laws by willfully retaining national security records that he was required to turn over to the National Archives.Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin protectus, past participle of protegere, from pro- in front + tegere to cover — more at pro-, thatch